Lake Carmel (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Carmel |
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Lake from the junction of New York State Routes 52 and 311
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 Lake Carmel
Location in New York
Lake Carmel
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake Carmel, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°27′35″N 73°39′54″W / 41.45972°N 73.66500°W |
| Primary outflows | Middle Branch Croton River |
| Catchment area | 13 sq mi (34 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 1.9 mi (3.1 km) |
| Max. width | 1,300 ft (400 m) |
| Surface area | 200 acres (81 ha) |
| Water volume | 2,790 acre⋅ft (3,440,000 m3) |
| Surface elevation | 618 ft (188 m) |
Lake Carmel is a small lake built by people in the Town of Kent. It is located in Putnam County, New York. The lake is named after the nearby town of Carmel. The community around the lake is also called Lake Carmel.
Developers created the lake in the early 1900s. They built a dam across the Middle Branch of the Croton River. Lake Carmel is one of the few large lakes in the county not part of the New York City water supply system. However, water flowing out of the lake goes into the system's Middle Branch Reservoir. This reservoir is located downstream in the town of Carmel. As more homes were built around the lake, the city helped the community improve its water cleaning systems.
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Lake Carmel's Location and Shape
The lake has a long, narrow shape. It is longer from north to south than it is wide. This shape shows that it was created by people. It also fits into one of the valleys in this generally hilly area.
There are two narrow areas where streams flow into the lake. These are at the north and northeast corners. A smaller inlet on the southwest side curves slightly north. This area then turns into swamps.
Lake Carmel and its community are in the southeast part of Kent. Most of the lake's edge has buildings. The neighborhoods around it spread out several blocks inland. They often gently climb up the surrounding hills. To the west of the lake is a steep, unnamed hill about 1,104 feet (336 m) tall.
Water Flow and Nearby Roads
Two streams flow into Lake Carmel, but they don't have names. One stream comes from the north-northwest. It starts in swamps about half a mile (800 m) to the north. The other northern stream begins several miles away in Bear Swamp. This swamp is in Dutchess County, in the Town of Beekman. This stream then flows through other lakes and ponds before reaching Lake Carmel. The Middle Branch River leaves the lake along its eastern shore. It is then held back again by a dam two miles (6.4 km) downstream.
Smadbeck Avenue (NY 52) runs close to the western shore. This is near the northern and central parts of the lake. Local roads like Lakeshore Drive complete the path around the lake. NY 311 crosses the lake's northern inlet. It uses a short causeway just before meeting Route 52. Other local roads, including Terry Hill Road (Putnam County Route 46), cross the eastern inlet. Route 52 also crosses the southwestern inlet. Interstate 84 is about a mile (1.6 km) to the northeast via Route 311. However, you cannot see the lake or the road from each other due to the hills. Route 52 goes to Carmel, about a mile (1.6 km) to the south.
History of Lake Carmel
In the late 1800s, many people from the city visited Putnam County's lakes. They came to escape the summer heat. Brothers Warren and Arthur Smadbeck were developers. They decided to create more places for people to visit. In 1928, they bought farms that were not doing well. They then built a dam to create Lake Carmel.
Around the lake, they built small bungalows and cottages. These were meant to be weekend or summer homes. They were for middle-income families. The brothers sold these homes with fancy advertisements in the New York Daily Mirror. This continued through the 1940s. Eventually, 5,400 homes were built in the three square miles (8 km²) around the lake. This made up one-third of all the homes in the town.
Lake Carmel Becomes a Year-Round Home
After World War II, it became easier to drive to the region from the city. New roads like the Taconic State Parkway and Interstate 684 opened. Lake Carmel then became one of the first "exurbs." These are areas outside of cities where more people live year-round. The original cottages were made bigger and changed for winter use.
Managing Wildlife and Water Quality
By 1999, many Canada geese lived at the lake. They became a problem because there were so many. People could not hunt them due to the nearby homes. The town tried different ways to control the goose population. This included treating their eggs and growing plants around the lake. Finally, the town decided to gather the geese during their molting season. This is when they cannot fly well. The geese were then harvested, and their meat was given to people in need. This was only the second time a community in the Northeast had taken such action.
Pollution from human activities also increased in the lake. This pollution could affect New York City's water supply. Local communities did not want to build sewage treatment plants. But by the late 1990s, more communities relied on city water. In 2000, the city and county made a deal. They agreed to build a plant to handle sewage from many homes around the lake. Many of these homes had old septic systems that were failing. The treated water would then go into the Hudson River. Four years later, the city also helped the town and county. They installed systems to control stormwater runoff along Route 52.
Recreation at Lake Carmel
The town owns Lake Carmel. It also owns parts of the shoreline that are not private property. To use the beaches or the water, you need a permit. This includes activities like swimming, boating, and fishing. You can also go ice fishing in the winter. These activities are only for residents with permits or their guests.
