Chadwick Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chadwick Lake |
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Lake viewed from its southern tip
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 Chadwick Lake
Location in New York
Chadwick Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Town of Newburgh, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°33′54″N 74°04′08″W / 41.56500°N 74.06889°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Quassaick Creek |
| Primary outflows | Quassaick Creek |
| Catchment area | 13.25 sq mi (34.3 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 2.3 mi (3.7 km) |
| Max. width | 0.3 mi (480 m) |
| Surface area | 207 acres (0.84 km2) |
| Average depth | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 25 ft (7.6 m) |
| Water volume | 612,000,000 US gal (2,320,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 453 ft (138 m) |
Chadwick Lake is a beautiful reservoir located in the Town of Newburgh, Orange County, New York, United States. It's a special place because it was created by people! In 1926, the Chadwick family built a dam on Quassaick Creek to form this lake on their private land. For 36 years, it was a fun spot for recreation.
In 1962, the Town of Newburgh bought Chadwick Lake. They wanted to use it as a main source of water supply for the town. However, in recent years, most of the town's water now comes from the Delaware Aqueduct. This means Chadwick Lake has gone back to being mainly a recreational area, which is great for everyone!
You can find Chadwick Lake northwest of where NY 32 and 300 meet. It's in the Cronomer Valley part of the town. The lake is open to the public, and there are many fun things to do, especially near its southern end.
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How Chadwick Lake Helps with Water
Today, most of the water for the Town of Newburgh comes from the New York City's Delaware Aqueduct. Chadwick Lake now acts mostly as a backup water source. This is important because it means the town always has enough water, even if there's a problem with the main supply.
Sometimes, if there was extra water in the lake, it was sold to companies. In 2006, it even helped a nearby town called New Windsor during a water shortage.
You might wonder why the town doesn't use Chadwick Lake for water all the time. Well, the lake's water can sometimes have a brownish tint. This is due to natural levels of manganese in the water. Since 2014, a new, very modern water treatment plant for the Delaware Aqueduct has been working. This plant makes the aqueduct water very clean, so the town often relies on it.
Fun Things to Do at Chadwick Lake
Chadwick Lake is a fantastic place for outdoor activities! Near the southern end of the lake, you'll find lots of facilities for visitors.
- Picnic Areas: There are shelters perfect for picnics with your family and friends.
- Playgrounds: Kids can have a blast on two different playgrounds.
- Trails: You can enjoy fitness and walking trails around the lake. A very popular 4.2-mile hiking trail goes all the way around the lake!
- Boating: There are places to launch boats, so you can enjoy being on the water.
- New Additions: Recently, the park has added even more cool features. These include basketball courts, a skating rink, and an arboretum (a place where different kinds of trees and shrubs are grown).
Generally, only residents of the Town of Newburgh can use these facilities. But if you're a resident, it's a great spot to visit!
Fishing at the Lake
If you love to fish, you're in luck! Fishing is allowed on Chadwick Lake. A common catch here is largemouth bass. So, grab your fishing rod and see what you can reel in!
History of Chadwick Lake
The story of Chadwick Lake began in 1926. The Chadwick family built the dam that created the lake, and it was their private property. For many years, a group called the Bethlehem Rod and Gun Club paid to use the lake for fishing. They even kept the lake stocked with fish! People had to pay a fee to use the lake for fishing, swimming, and boating.
For a long time, the Town of Newburgh wanted to buy the lake to use as a water supply. However, a New York State law prevented towns from buying such properties until 1961. That year, the state government approved a new law that allowed towns to make these purchases.
The Chadwick family first asked for a million dollars for the lake and the land around it. After talking with the town, they lowered their price to $850,000. The town then offered $775,000 for about 427 acres (1.73 km2) of land, including the whole lake. The Chadwick family agreed! The town also bought another 18 acres (73,000 m2) of nearby land for $15,000, making the total cost $790,000.
A town councilman named Robert DeLong was a big supporter of buying the lake. He explained that the town's tax money had grown enough by 1961 to afford the purchase without putting too much pressure on taxpayers. He also pointed out that the underground water levels in some parts of the town were getting very low. This made buying the lake a very important goal.
Even though the Town Council voted 5-0 to buy the lake, some people still disagreed. They felt the Town of Newburgh was still too rural to need a central water supply. They also thought the $790,000 price was too high. These opponents believed that by not providing town water, the rural feel of Newburgh could last forever.
The opponents gathered enough signatures to force a public vote on the purchase. On February 26, 1962, the town voted. The purchase was approved by a close vote of 987 to 881.
Park Improvements
The park facilities at Chadwick Lake have grown a lot over the years. These improvements are paid for by a special Parkland Trust Fund. All developers who build in the Town of Newburgh must contribute to this fund. This means that the upgrades and expansion of Chadwick Park have cost very little for the town's taxpayers.
A Note on the Name
You might see some old maps from the 1950s and 1960s that incorrectly call the lake "Cronomer Lake." This is probably because the lake is close to the small community of Cronomer Valley. However, there's no real proof that the name "Cronomer Lake" was ever officially or commonly used. It's likely just a mistake on those old maps.
