Tomahawk Lake (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tomahawk Lake |
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View from the east at Hulsetown Road crossing
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 Tomahawk Lake
Location in New York
Tomahawk Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Blooming Grove, New York |
| Coordinates | 41°24′31″N 74°13′24″W / 41.40861°N 74.22333°W |
| Type | artificial |
| Primary inflows | unnamed |
| Primary outflows | Cromline Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| Surface elevation | 340 ft (100 m) |
Tomahawk Lake is a beautiful lake located in the town of Blooming Grove, New York, in the United States. It is not a natural lake but a special type called a reservoir. This means it was created by people in 1929 to store water.
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Discover Tomahawk Lake
Tomahawk Lake covers an area of about 150 acres (which is about 60 football fields!). It was made by building a dam across a stream called Cromline Creek. This creek eventually flows into the Hudson River, a very important river in New York.
How Tomahawk Lake Was Made
In 1929, engineers built a dam to hold back the water from Cromline Creek. This created the large body of water we now know as Tomahawk Lake. The water from Cromline Creek joins with another stream, Otter Kill, to form Moodna Creek. Moodna Creek then flows into the mighty Hudson River.
Who Can Use Tomahawk Lake?
Tomahawk Lake is owned by a private group, like a neighborhood association. This means that only the people who are members of this group can usually use the lake. They use it for their water supply and for fun activities like boating or swimming.
There are a few places where the public can access the lake. Two roads cross over the lake, and people can fish from these roads up to 50 feet from the middle of the road. There is also a small parking area on Hulsetown Road if you want to visit. However, you cannot use a bow and arrow for fishing from the road, as it is against the law in New York.
Keeping the Lake Healthy
Lakes sometimes face challenges, and Tomahawk Lake is no different. Recently, about 30 acres of the lake became overgrown with a plant called water chestnut. This plant can spread quickly and harm the lake's environment. To fix this, a special plant killer, called an herbicide, was used to get rid of the water chestnuts.
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) helps make sure lakes and dams are safe. In 2006, they found that the dam at Tomahawk Lake needed some improvements. It didn't have a plan for emergencies, and some past repairs were done without the right permits. Since then, work has been done to make the dam safer, including clearing trees and making necessary repairs. You can even see some of this work from Cherry Hill Road.
