Controlled lake facts for kids
A controlled lake is a special kind of lake or reservoir where people manage its water level. This is usually done with a dam. The term can mean any lake with a dam, or it can refer to three specific small lakes that are part of the New York City water supply system. These lakes are in Putnam County, New York, and help provide drinking water for New York City.
What is a Controlled Lake?
Controlling Water Levels
A "controlled lake" is a body of water whose level is managed by a dam. This can be a natural lake that was made bigger by a dam, or a dry area that was flooded and then dammed. It can also be a part of a river that was dammed to create a new lake.
Dams are built for many reasons. They can make electricity, help with flood control, or provide water for drinking. Dams also supply water for irrigation (watering crops) or for fun activities like boating. Sometimes, dams are built to make the land around the lake more valuable.
The size of the dam or the lake doesn't matter. A small pond with a floodgate or a huge lake like Lake Mead (which is about 650 square kilometers) are both controlled lakes. What matters is that people can change the water level using a dam.
Sometimes, a controlled body of water is called a "lake" even if it's technically a "reservoir." This is usually just how people have always referred to it, especially if it was a natural lake before the dam was built.
New York City's Special Controlled Lakes
The New York City water supply system uses the term "controlled lake" for three smaller reservoirs. These lakes are part of its Croton Watershed and are important for the city's drinking water. They are Lake Gleneida and Lake Gilead, both in the hamlet of Carmel, and Kirk Lake in the hamlet of Mahopac. All three are located in the town of Carmel in Putnam County, New York.
Each of these lakes has a dam and a spillway to control how much water flows out. "Controlled" also means that access to these lakes and how they are used is limited. This is to keep the drinking water clean and safe for everyone in New York City.
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) manages these lakes. They make sure the water supply system works well and is protected. New York City can take water from these "controlled lakes" because they either own the lakes or have special rights to their water.
If you want to use these controlled lakes for fun, you need to follow the DEP's rules. You can find their guidelines and requirements on their website. Fishing and boating (using boats without motors) are allowed if you have a valid DEP permit and a fishing license from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. However, swimming is not allowed in these lakes to protect the water quality.
