Delta Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delta Reservoir |
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View of Delta Reservoir, looking East.
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 Delta Reservoir
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Delta Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Oneida County, New York |
| Coordinates | 43°17′22″N 75°26′11″W / 43.28944°N 75.43639°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Mohawk River, Potash Creek, Sprinks Brook, Griffith Brook |
| Primary outflows | Mohawk River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,377 acres (3.714 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 22 feet (6.7 m) |
| Max. depth | 60 feet (18 m) |
| Shore length1 | 18.7 miles (30.1 km) |
| Surface elevation | 548 feet (167 m) |
| Islands | 4 |
| Settlements | Rome, Westernville |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Delta Reservoir, also called Delta Lake, is a large, man-made lake in Oneida County, New York State, USA. It was created by building a dam across the Mohawk River.
Most of the lake is in the town of Western, north of Rome. A smaller part is in the town of Lee. You can find Delta Lake State Park on a piece of land that sticks out into the lake from its south side.
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Fun Things to Do at Delta Lake
Delta Lake is a great spot for outdoor activities. Many people enjoy visiting the lake for fishing and boating.
Fishing at Delta Lake
The reservoir is a popular place for fishing. You can find many different kinds of fish here. Some of the fish species include:
- Walleye
- Smallmouth bass
- Northern pike
- Chain pickerel
- Rock bass
- Pumpkinseed sunfish
- Brown bullhead
- Yellow perch
- Brown trout
- Common carp
There is a public boat launch on the east side of the lake. It has two concrete ramps for boats. You can find it in the state park, off NY 46. This spot is about five miles north of Rome. There is also plenty of parking for trucks and boat trailers. A marina is also located on the lake, where you can dock your boat.
History of Delta Lake
Delta Lake was built a long time ago to help control water. It has an interesting history related to a famous canal.
How the Reservoir Was Built
Construction on the dam for Delta Reservoir started in 1908. The dam is located on the south side of the lake, southwest of Delta Lake State Park.
When it was first built, the main reason for the reservoir was to make sure there was enough water for the Erie Canal. Today, the lake helps control flooding in the Mohawk River area. The reservoir can hold a huge amount of water, about 2.7 million cubic feet (76,000 cubic meters).
The Village Under the Lake
Before the reservoir was filled with water, there was a small community called Delta where the lake is now. This village was on the west bank of the Mohawk River. Most of the buildings in Delta were taken apart and moved to new locations before the area was flooded to create the lake.
