Rensselaer Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rensselaer Lake |
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View across the lake from southeast
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 Rensselaer Lake
Location in New York
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| Location | Albany, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°41′51″N 73°49′57″W / 42.6975°N 73.8325°W |
| Type | artificial |
| Primary outflows | Patroon Creek |
| Managing agency | City of Albany |
| Built | 1851 |
| Surface area | 35.3 acres (14.3 ha) |
| Average depth | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
| Max. depth | 23 ft (7.0 m) |
| Water volume | 16 million gal (610,000 m3) |
| Shore length1 | 2.6 miles (4.2 km) |
| Surface elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Rensselaer Lake is a lake in Albany, New York. It was made by people, not by nature, so it's called an artificial lake. The lake is named after Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer. He was the last "patroon" of Rensselaerswyck, which was a large land area.
This lake was the very first water source owned by the city of Albany. Today, it is part of a 57-acre park. This park is also part of the state's special Albany Pine Bush Preserve. Since 2003, the Albany Water Authority has been in charge of the lake and park.
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How Rensselaer Lake Was Created
Rensselaer Lake is located in the western part of Albany. It is at the very beginning of the Patroon Creek. This area once had many small streams that joined to form the creek.
The city of Albany bought this land in 1850. Then, in 1851, they built a dam to create the lake. This made it the city's first public water supply. The dam was about 6 miles from Albany City Hall. Because of this distance, the lake was first called the "Six Mile Waterworks." Before this, a private company provided water to the city.
The lake sent water to the Bleecker Reservoir. This water was used by parts of the city west of Pearl Street. Rensselaer Lake was used for drinking water until 1926. Later, in 1956, Erastus Corning II, who was the Mayor at the time, made it a city park.
Bringing the Park Back to Life
In the late 1990s, the Six Mile Waterworks park was fixed up. It had been in poor condition for many years. The city worked with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission. They also got help from schools, businesses, and youth groups. Together, they built new docks, a boardwalk, and a nature trail. There are also plans to build an outdoor learning center.
The Lake's Ownership Changes
In 2003, the Albany Water Authority made a deal with the city. They paid $7 million for a 50-year lease of the Six Mile Waterworks and Rensselaer Lake. The Water Authority wanted to use the lake as an emergency backup water supply. This deal included the entire 206-acre city park. This helped the city manage its money for a few years.
Where is Rensselaer Lake?
Rensselaer Lake is mostly in the western part of Albany. A small part of it reaches into the nearby town of Guilderland. The lake is the main part of the Albany Pine Bush Rensselaer Lake Preserve and Park. This park is also known as the Six Mile Waterworks. It is an important part of the larger Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
Lake Features and Surroundings
The Adirondack Northway (I-87) highway goes over a narrow part of the lake. A bridge carries the highway just north of Exit 1. This narrow part connects the main eastern side of the lake to a shallower western side. The western side is about 15 feet deep.
Exit 1 and Interstate 90 (I-90) are just south of the lake and park. To the north, you'll find the town of Guilderland and CSXT railroad tracks. Rapp Road is to the west of the lake. Fuller Road and Exit 2 of I-90 are to the east. The Patroon Creek starts at the lake and flows east towards the Hudson River.
The western part of the lake has two branches. These branches are fed by small streams. The northern branch gets water from underground. The southern branch gets water from a 1150-foot stream. This stream is made by two drainage pipes and water seeping from the ground. These two branches meet about 2300 feet past the southern stream. The lake covers an area of 35.3 acres. It is usually about 11 feet deep, but its deepest point is over 20 feet.
Fun Things to Do at Rensselaer Lake
Rensselaer Lake and its park offer many fun activities. You can go fishing, boating, hiking, and have picnics. There is also a playground for kids. The city adds fish to the lake several times a year. These fish come from the city's main water source, the Alcove Reservoir.
There is a special platform for watching wildlife. This platform lets visitors see animals and plants along a wet area of the lake without disturbing them. Two large docks make it easy to get onto the lake with a boat.
