Pepacton Reservoir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pepacton Reservoir |
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Pepacton reservoir at Route 30 bridge
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 Pepacton Reservoir
Location in New York Adirondack Park
Pepacton Reservoir
Location in the United States
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| Location | Delaware County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°05′20″N 74°49′20″W / 42.08889°N 74.82222°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | East Branch of the Delaware River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 15 mi (24 km) |
| Max. width | 0.7 mi (1.12 km) |
| Surface area | 5,726 acres (23.17 km2) |
| Max. depth | 180 ft (55 m) |
| Water volume | 430,256 acre-feet (530,713,000 m3) |
The Pepacton Reservoir, also known as the Downsville Reservoir, is a large reservoir in Delaware County, New York. It's located in the beautiful Catskill Mountains and is an important part of the New York City water supply system. This reservoir was created by building the Downsville Dam across the East Branch of the Delaware River. It holds a lot of water, supplying New York City with nearly 25% of its drinking water!
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About the Pepacton Reservoir
The Pepacton Reservoir is about 12 miles south of Delhi. It is also about 101 miles northwest of New York City. The reservoir is long and winding, stretching for about 15 miles. At its widest point, it is about 0.7 miles across.
This huge body of water is over 160 feet deep in some places. When it's completely full, it holds an amazing 430,256 acre-feet of water. This makes it the biggest reservoir in New York City's water system by how much water it can hold.
How Water Reaches New York City
The Pepacton Reservoir plays a key role in providing drinking water to millions of people. Water from the reservoir first flows into the 25.5-mile-long East Delaware Tunnel. This tunnel starts near where the old town of Pepacton used to be.
From there, the water travels through the aqueduct system. It empties into the Rondout Reservoir. After that, it enters the 85-mile-long Delaware Aqueduct. This aqueduct carries the water under the Hudson River.
The water then goes to the West Branch Reservoir in Putnam County, New York. Next, it moves on to the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County. Kensico is just north of The Bronx. Finally, the aqueduct continues to the Hillview Reservoir. From Hillview, the water is sent through tunnels to homes and businesses all over New York City.
History of the Reservoir
The name Pepacton comes from a Lenape Native American term. It means "marriage of the waters." The land where the reservoir now sits was bought by New York City in 1942.
To create the reservoir, four towns were covered by water: Arena, Pepacton, Shavertown, and Union Grove. A part of the Delaware and Northern Railroad was also submerged. The large dam, located at Downsville, was finished in 1954. The process of filling the reservoir with water was completed in 1955.
Fun Activities at the Reservoir
The Pepacton Reservoir is very important to the local area, especially for the town of Downsville, New York. Thousands of visitors come to Downsville every year. They come to fish for trout in the reservoir.
It's important to know the rules for boating on the reservoir. You are not allowed to use motor boats here. However, you can use non-motorized boats, like canoes or kayaks. These boats must be steam-cleaned before use. They also need to have special tags. You can use these approved boats during the summer months.
Tributaries
Many smaller streams and brooks flow into the Pepacton Reservoir. These are called tributaries. They help keep the reservoir full of fresh water. Some of the main tributaries include:
