Lake Moraine (New York) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Lake Moraine
Lake Moraine Location in New York Adirondack Park Show map of New York Adirondack Park Lake Moraine Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Madison County, New York, United States
Coordinates	42°51′22″N 75°31′08″W / 42.856°N 75.519°W / 42.856; -75.519
Type	Lake
Primary inflows	Payne Brook
Primary outflows	Payne Brook
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	1.62 miles (2.61 km)
Surface area	261 acres (1.06 km2)
Average depth	17.7 feet (5.4 m)
Max. depth	45 feet (14 m)
Surface elevation	1,211 feet (369 m)
Islands	4 Big Island, Kinmouth Island, Heyser Island, Snake Island
Settlements	Hamilton, New York

Lake Moraine, also known as Madison Reservoir, is a cool lake in New York. It has a good amount of nutrients, which means it's healthy for plants and animals. You can find it about 2.5 miles (4 km) northeast of Hamilton.

This lake is quite big, covering about 261 acres (1.06 km²). It has two main parts, like two big bowls. These parts are separated by a road called a causeway. A small tunnel, a culvert, connects these two parts.

The northern part of the lake is smaller, about 79 acres (0.32 km²). It is also quite shallow, with a deepest spot of 12 feet (3.7 m). On average, it's only about 3.7 feet (1.1 m) deep. The southern part is much larger, covering 172 acres (0.70 km²). This deeper section goes down to 45 feet (13.7 m) at its deepest point. Its average depth is about 17.7 feet (5.4 m). Water flows out of Lake Moraine through a stream called Payne Brook, which then goes into the Chenango River.

Fishing in Lake Moraine

Lake Moraine is a popular spot for fishing. Many different kinds of fish live here, making it an exciting place for anglers.

Fish Species You Can Find

Here are some of the fish that call Lake Moraine home:

• Largemouth bass
• Smallmouth bass
• Chain pickerel
• Brook trout
• Rainbow trout
• Tiger muskie
• Walleye
• Black crappie
• Pumpkinseed sunfish
• Bluegill
• Brown trout
• Redbreast sunfish
• Rock bass
• Brown bullhead
• Golden shiner
• White sucker
• Creek chubsucker

The lake is especially known for its large chain pickerel. Some of these fish can grow up to 24 inches (61 cm) long!

Fish Stocking and Conservation

To keep the lake healthy and full of fish, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) helps out.

• Every year, they add about 780 tiger muskie to Lake Moraine. This is called "stocking."
• The Lake Moraine Association is also trying something new. They are stocking the lake with young walleye fish, called "fingerlings."
• The idea is that these walleye will help reduce the number of smaller fish, like panfish.
• With fewer panfish, there might be more aquatic invertebrates (tiny water bugs). These invertebrates eat a plant called Eurasian watermilfoil, which can sometimes grow too much. By helping these bugs, the lake can control the watermilfoil naturally.

Boat Launch Access

If you want to bring a boat to Lake Moraine, there's a public boat launch available.

• It's a concrete ramp where you can launch your boat.
• You can find it on County Route 87, also known as East Lake Road.
• The launch is about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Madison, New York.