Rushford Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rushford Lake |
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Rushford Lake
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 Rushford Lake
Location in New York
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| Location | Allegany County, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°22′57″N 78°11′34″W / 42.3825°N 78.1928°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Caneadea Creek Rush Creek |
| Primary outflows | Caneadea Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 585 acres (2.37 km2) |
| Max. depth | 115 ft (35 m) |
| Shore length1 | 5.3 mi (8.5 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,440 ft (440 m) |
| Settlements | Balcom Beach Hillcrest |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Rushford Lake is a small lake in western New York. It is a reservoir, which means it's a lake made by people. The lake is mostly in the Town of Rushford. A small part of it is in the Town of Caneadea. Both towns are in Allegany County.
Contents
What is Rushford Lake Like?
Rushford Lake covers about 585 acres (2.37 km2) of land. It has a cool crescent, or moon-like, shape. Water flows into the lake from Rush Creek. This creek enters the lake at its south end. Water then flows out of the lake on its east side. This water eventually reaches the Genesee River.
How Deep is the Lake?
The deepest part of Rushford Lake is about 115 feet (35 m) deep. Each winter, the lake's water level is lowered by about 40 feet (12 m). This helps manage the water and prepares the lake for winter.
Towns Near the Lake
Two small communities are located close to Rushford Lake. Balcom Beach is on the northern side of the lake. Hillcrest is found on the western side. New York State Route 243 is a road that passes by the northern end of the lake.
How Was Rushford Lake Formed?
Rushford Lake was created in 1927. People built a dam on Caneadea Creek. When the dam was finished, the area behind it filled with water. This caused two small communities, East Rushford and Kellogville, to be covered by water.
Who Owned the Lake?
The dam and the new lake were first owned by Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E). Their main goal was to control the water level in the Genesee River. In 1981, the ownership of the dam and Rushford Lake changed. They were given to the Rushford Lake Recreation District. This group now manages the dam and how people use the lake and its shores.
Fun Things to Do at Rushford Lake
Rushford Lake is a very popular spot for fun activities, especially in the summer. It's a great place for outdoor adventures.
Fishing at the Lake
The lake is a good place to go fishing. Every spring, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation adds brown and rainbow trout to the lake. This helps keep the fish population healthy. You can also find other types of fish here, like bass, crappie, carp, perch, suckers, bullhead, and sunfish.
Where Can You Fish?
There are two main spots where people can go fishing at Rushford Lake.
- On the north side, the Balcom Beach area lets you fish from the shore. It also has a boat launch for boats that are used only for fishing. Launching your fishing boat here is free every day of the week.
- Near the dam, there is another area off Dam Road. This spot also lets you fish from the shore.
- You can even go ice fishing on the lake when it's cold enough!
