List of dams and reservoirs in New York facts for kids

New York State is home to many important structures called dams and reservoirs. These amazing engineering projects help us manage water for drinking, electricity, and even prevent floods. They are a big part of how New Yorkers get their daily water supply and power.

Understanding Reservoirs: Our Water Storage Tanks

A reservoir is like a giant, man-made lake where water is collected and stored. Most reservoirs are created by building a dam across a river or stream. This stored water is super important for many reasons.

Why Do We Need Reservoirs?

• Drinking Water: Many reservoirs, especially in New York, hold fresh water that is cleaned and sent to homes for drinking, cooking, and washing. New York City, for example, gets most of its drinking water from reservoirs far away in the Catskill Mountains.
• Electricity: Some reservoirs are used to generate hydroelectric power. This means the force of water flowing from the reservoir turns turbines to create electricity.
• Flood Control: Reservoirs can also help control floods. When there's a lot of rain or melting snow, reservoirs can hold back excess water, preventing rivers from overflowing and damaging towns.
• Recreation: Many reservoirs are also places where people can enjoy boating, fishing, and other outdoor activities.

Key Reservoirs in New York

New York has many reservoirs, each playing a vital role. Here are a few important ones:

• Ashokan Reservoir: Located in Ulster County, this is one of the largest reservoirs in the New York City water supply system. It can hold billions of gallons of water!
• Kensico Reservoir: Found in Westchester County, this reservoir acts as a holding tank for water coming from other upstate reservoirs before it travels to New York City.
• Pepacton Reservoir: This is the largest reservoir in the New New York City water supply system by volume. It's located in Delaware County.
• Great Sacandaga Lake: While it's called a lake, it's actually a large reservoir in the Adirondack Mountains. It was created to help control flooding on the Hudson River.

Other important reservoirs include:

• Cannonsville Reservoir
• Neversink Reservoir
• Rondout Reservoir
• Schoharie Reservoir
• West Branch Reservoir

Dams: The Walls That Hold Water

A dam is a strong barrier built across a river or stream to hold back water, creating a reservoir. Dams are incredible feats of engineering, designed to withstand the immense pressure of millions of gallons of water.

How Do Dams Work?

Dams are built from strong materials like concrete, rock, or earth. They block the natural flow of water, causing it to back up and form a large body of water behind the dam – the reservoir. Gates or spillways in the dam can be opened to release water in a controlled way.

Types of Dams and Their Uses

• Water Supply Dams: These dams create reservoirs for drinking water, like the New Croton Dam which helps supply water to parts of New York City.
• Hydroelectric Dams: These dams are built to generate electricity. Water flows through large pipes (penstocks) and spins turbines connected to generators. The Blenheim-Gilboa Pumped Storage Power Project is an example of a facility that uses dams for power generation.
• Flood Control Dams: Some dams are designed primarily to prevent floods by holding back excess water during heavy rains or snowmelt. The Mount Morris Dam on the Genesee River is a major flood control dam.

Notable Dams in New York

Many dams are crucial to New York's infrastructure. Here are a few examples:

• Kensico Dam: This massive concrete dam is part of the Kensico Reservoir system. It's a very impressive structure.
• Gilboa Dam: This dam holds back the Schoharie Reservoir, another key part of New York City's water supply. It has undergone major upgrades to ensure its safety.
• Downsville Dam: This dam creates the Pepacton Reservoir, the largest reservoir by volume in the New York City water supply system.
• Conklingville Dam: This dam created the Great Sacandaga Lake, helping to manage water levels and prevent floods in the Hudson River valley.

See also

• List of dam removals in New York
• List of lakes of New York