Lake DeForest facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake DeForest |
|
|---|---|
Lake DeForest viewed from nearby High Tor, a summit of the northern Hudson River Palisades.
|
|
 Lake DeForest
Location in New York
Lake DeForest
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Clarkstown, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°09′21″N 73°57′30″W / 41.1558°N 73.9584°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Hackensack River |
| Basin countries | Newark Basin United States |
Lake DeForest, also known as DeForest Lake, is a large reservoir in Clarkstown, New York. It was created in 1956 by building a dam across the Hackensack River. This lake is a very important source of water supply for many homes. It provides drinking water for people in Rockland County, New York and parts of Northern New Jersey. This includes areas like Bergen and Hudson counties.
The company Suez North America owns and manages Lake DeForest. It is the first in a series of reservoirs along the Hackensack River. Other reservoirs further downstream include Lake Tappan, the Woodcliff Lake Reservoir, and the Oradell Reservoir. Lake DeForest can hold a huge amount of water, about 5.6 billion gallons! Because this water is used for drinking, swimming and bathing are not allowed in the lake. A road called Congers Road (CR 80) crosses over the lake on a special bridge called a causeway.
Contents
How Lake DeForest Was Built
Lake DeForest was built through a special agreement between two water companies. These were the Hackensack Water Company from New Jersey and the Spring Valley Water Company from Spring Valley, New York. Their goal was to make sure both states had enough water.
Planning the Lake
The idea for Lake DeForest came from George F. Wieghardt, a chief engineer. He worked on the project from 1938 to 1954. People realized the lake needed to be built quickly. They wanted to create it before new houses were built on the low, swampy land. Building homes there would have made it impossible to create the lake later.
Public Concerns and Support
At first, some people worried about the lake project. There were even some false rumors that New Jersey was trying to "steal" water from New York. Others thought the lake would create "smelly mud flats." However, these fears changed over time.
By the mid-1960s, a serious drought hit the area. During this time, people saw how important Lake DeForest was. It provided a safe and steady water supply. After this, almost everyone agreed that the lake was a great idea. Many people felt that no one would ever want to see the lake drained. They believed it was much better than having more houses built on the land.
Who Lake DeForest Is Named After
The lake is named after Henry L. deForest. He was the president of the Hackensack Water Company from 1936 to 1950. The idea for the lake began during his time as president. Sadly, Henry L. deForest passed away shortly before the lake was officially opened on March 13, 1957. His father, Robert W. DeForest, also led the Hackensack Water Company for many years, from 1881 to 1926.
Water Companies Joining Forces
The Hackensack Water Company and the Spring Valley Water Company worked together for a long time. The Hackensack company even owned a lot of shares in the Spring Valley company. In the 1980s, these companies joined together to form United Water Resources. Later, this company was bought by Suez North America, which now operates Lake DeForest.
