Neversink Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neversink Reservoir |
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South end, from the dam
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 Neversink Reservoir
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Neversink Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Sullivan County, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°49′33″N 74°38′20″W / 41.82583°N 74.63889°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Neversink River |
| Primary outflows | Neversink River, Neversink Tunnel |
| Catchment area | 92 sq mi (240 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 5 mi (8.0 km) |
| Max. depth | 175 ft (53 m) |
| Water volume | 34.9 billion US gallons (132,000,000 m3) |
The Neversink Reservoir is a large artificial lake in the New York City water supply system. It is located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains in Sullivan County, New York. This reservoir is about 75 miles (120.6 km) northwest of New York City.
The reservoir gets its water from the Neversink River. This river is the longest branch of the Delaware River. Water from the Neversink Reservoir travels through the Neversink Tunnel. It then joins water from other reservoirs, like Pepacton Reservoir and Cannonsville Reservoir. Together, these reservoirs provide almost half of New York City's daily water needs.
Contents
Building the Reservoir
Why Neversink Was Built
Construction of the Neversink Reservoir began in 1941. New York City knew it would need a lot more water after World War II. The city was growing very quickly. Officials decided to build new reservoirs to meet this growing demand.
Other plans for smaller reservoirs were considered first. However, these plans didn't work out. Local fly fishing fans were against them. Also, the ground in those areas wasn't suitable for building. So, Neversink was chosen instead.
Towns That Made Way for Water
To create the reservoir, two small towns were flooded. These towns were Neversink and Bittersweet. Both had been around for a long time. The city bought the land from the residents.
The original town of Neversink was moved a little over a mile away. It still exists today. Sadly, the town of Bittersweet was completely covered by water and is now gone. The reservoir was finished in 1953. It started sending water to the city in 1954. By 1955, it was completely full.
Facts and Figures
How Big Is It?
When full, the Neversink Reservoir holds a huge amount of water. It can store about 34.9 billion US gallons (132 billion liters). The area that drains into the reservoir is 92 square miles (239 km²). This is the smallest area for any of New York City's Catskill reservoirs.
The reservoir is about 5 miles (8 km) long. At its deepest point, it reaches 175 feet (53 meters) down. The water comes from six towns and two counties. It even collects water from near Slide Mountain. This is the highest peak in the Catskills.
The Neversink Dam
The Neversink Dam is an earthen structure. This means it's made mostly of earth and rock. It is 2,820 feet (859 meters) long. The dam stands 195 feet (60 meters) high. NY 55 is a road that goes right across the top of the dam.
The water level at the spillway is 1,440 feet (439 meters) above sea level. This makes Neversink the highest of all the city's reservoirs.
Visiting the Reservoir
Getting There
The Neversink Reservoir is not as easy to reach as some other reservoirs. NY 55 runs along its southern end. However, this is the only main road close to the reservoir.
Access to the reservoir itself is very strict. Security has been increased since 2001. This is to protect the city's water supply.
Fun Activities and Rules
You can go fishing at the Neversink Reservoir during certain times of the year. You need a special permit from the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). You also need a New York state fishing license. The reservoir is well-known for its trout.
Many types of fish live in the lake. These include landlocked salmon, brown trout, yellow perch, and smallmouth bass. You might also find smelt, chain pickerel, black bullhead, rock bass, and pumpkinseed sunfish.
If you have a boat, you can use it for fishing. However, you are not allowed to take your boat off the reservoir. This rule helps protect the environment. Boats must be stored near the reservoir all year.
Hunters with valid city and state permits can also use the land around the reservoir. This is allowed during hunting season in specific areas.
Other than fishing and hunting, no other recreational use is permitted. Even though the area isn't fully fenced, DEP police regularly patrol it. They make sure everyone follows the rules.
