Hemlock Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hemlock Lake |
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View north from boat launch in the evening.
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 Hemlock Lake
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Hemlock Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Livingston and Ontario counties, New York, United States |
| Group | Finger Lakes |
| Coordinates | 42°43′07″N 77°36′32″W / 42.71861°N 77.60889°W |
| Type | Ground moraine |
| Primary inflows | Spring Water Creek, Lime Kiln Creek, Reynolds Gully |
| Primary outflows | Hemlock Outlet |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 7 mi (11 km) |
| Max. width | 0.5 mi (0.80 km) |
| Surface area | 1,800 acres (730 ha) |
| Average depth | 45 ft (14 m) |
| Max. depth | 91 ft (28 m) |
| Water volume | .024 cu mi (0.10 km3) |
| Surface elevation | 906 ft (276 m) |
Hemlock Lake is one of the smaller Finger Lakes in New York. It's mostly in Livingston County, New York, south of Rochester, New York, with a small part in Ontario County, New York. The name Hemlock comes from the Seneca name for the lake, O-neh-da Te-car-ne-o-di.
Contents
About Hemlock Lake
Hemlock Lake is about seven miles (11 km) long. It is also around 0.5 miles (0.80 km) wide for most of its length, running north to south. The lake covers an area of 1,800 acres (7 km2). Its deepest point is 91 feet (28 m), and its average depth is 45 feet (14 m).
Rules for Using the Lake
Hemlock Lake is an important source of drinking water for the city of Rochester. Because of this, there are special rules to protect the water quality. You won't find many buildings along the shore. Also, boats on the lake must be no longer than 16 feet. Their outboard motors can't be bigger than 10 horsepower. Swimming is not allowed in the lake to keep the water clean.
Fish You Can Find Here
Hemlock Lake is home to many kinds of fish. A special fish found here is the land-locked salmon. Other fish include rainbow trout, brown trout, and lake trout. You can also find smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, chain pickerel, brown bullhead, yellow perch, walleye, and black crappie.
Hemlock Lake Through Time
Early History and Native Americans
The Seneca people lived near Hemlock Lake for a long time. They used the lake and its surrounding areas for hunting and fishing. This was especially true near the south end of the lake. They lived there until the late 1770s. In September 1779, General John Sullivan and his army moved the Seneca people away from the lake. This was part of an event called the Sullivan Expedition.
First Settlers and "Slab City"
The first European settlers arrived at Hemlock Lake in the 1790s. Many of these settlers worked in the lumber industry. They built their homes from wooden slabs near the lake's outlet. This outlet is at the north end of the lake. For a while, this area was even known as "Slab City." The lake was used to float logs to Slab City in the summer. In winter, logs were hauled across the ice.
A Popular Vacation Spot
Over the years, Hemlock Lake became a popular place. More than one hundred cottages and five hotels were built around it. In the 1800s, five large boats sailed on the lake. One of the first steam boats was called "The Seth Green." The lake was a favorite summer vacation spot for wealthy people, especially those from Rochester.
Protecting Rochester's Water Supply
In 1852, the city of Rochester faced a serious problem. Many people got sick because their city water was dirty. So, Rochester decided to build a 16-mile (26 km) pipeline. This pipeline would bring clean water from Hemlock Lake to the city. In 1876, the pipeline opened. Water flowed from the lake to Rochester using gravity.
To make the water even cleaner, Rochester bought the land around Hemlock Lake. They also bought land around nearby Canadice Lake. Starting in 1895, the cottages, hotels, and farms on this land were taken down. If property owners didn't want to sell, the city could still buy their land for public use. Rochester ended up owning over 5,000 acres (20 km2) of land around both lakes. About 3,900 acres (16 km2) of this land was covered in forests.
Hemlock Lake Today
In 2010, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) bought both Hemlock and Canadice Lakes from the City of Rochester. They paid $13.7 million for them. The State has promised to keep these lakes "forever wild." This means the land around them will stay natural and protected. People are allowed to visit and enjoy the lake. However, the rules for boats are still in place. Boats must be 17 feet (5.2 m) or less in length, and outboard motors must be 10 horsepower or less.
