- Rondout Reservoir
Infobox lake
lake_name = Rondout Reservoir
image_lake = Rondout Reservoir 2.jpg
caption_lake =Spillway at eastern end
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location =Catskill Mountains ,New York
coords = coord|41|49|21.36|N|74|28|15.6|W|type:waterbody_region:US-NY|display=inline,title
type =reservoir
inflow =Rondout Creek
outflow =Delaware Aqueduct
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = 6.5 mi (9.7 km)
width =
area = 2,052 acres (8.2 km²)
depth = 73.8 ft (22.4 m)
max-depth =
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation =
islands =
cities =Rondout Reservoir is part of New York City's water supply network. It is located 75 miles (120 km) northwest of the city in the
Catskill Mountains , near the southern end ofCatskill Park , split between the towns of Wawarsing in Ulster County and Neversink in Sullivan County. It is the central collection point for the city's Delaware System, which provides half its daily consumption.History
The reservoir was made possible by the construction of
Merriman Dam alongRondout Creek . Construction began in 1937 and ended in 1954, three years after the reservoir began delivering water. It would be the first of four built by the city to satisfy its growing demand in the years afterWorld War II . Three villages — Lackawack, Montela and Eureka — were condemned and flooded in the process. The small settlement of Grahamsville remains in existence just west of the reservoir.In 1998, the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued an advisoryNew York City Department of Environmental Protection; September 9, 1998; [http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/press/hgfishpr.html Fish Consumption Advisory for Rondout Reservoir] , retrieved November 17, 1998.] warning against eating more than one reservoir-caught
smallmouth bass per month after mercury levels of 1.3 part per million (ppm), slightly above the federal standard of 1.0 ppm, were confirmed in three caught in the reservoir. Since there is no industry in the reservoir's vast watershed, this contamination is believed to be the result ofacid rain fromcoal -firedpower plant s in the Midwest.Forged dam inspections controversy
In 2006, after residents raised concerns regarding the soundness of both Merriman and Neversink dams following emergency repairs to Schoharie Dam, a local newspaper, the "
Times Herald Record " obtained copies of weekly visualinspection reports for both and found that thehandwriting and information relating to the appearance of the dams on weekly reports compiled by inspector Ronald Hewlett and initialed by section engineer Russell Betters over a three-year period was virtually identical, suggesting they had been routinely photocopied.Bruno, Greg and Gardner, Jessica; January 17, 2006; [http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2006/01/17/news-gbnycdams(live)-01-17.html Phony dam reports: Doubts raised on safety of NYC dams here] , "Times Herald Record "; retrieved October 26, 2006.]At first the city's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which runs the reservoirs, was dismissive of the reports, suggesting the reporters were confused.Editorial; January 18, 2006; [http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2006/01/18/opinion-18janedit-01-18.html Copy this, DEP: Be up front on your dams] ; "
Times Herald Record "; retrieved October 27, 2006.]Only variable information, such as
weather and water elevation, changed in each report. Sentences like "Animalburrow s need to be refilled" were identical across 70% of the reviewed reports. More in-depth engineering reports done every two years by the State of New York, as well as detailed engineering reports completed a few years earlier by an engineering consultant working for the City of New York, showed that there were in fact no structural deficiencies in either dam.Bruno and Gardner; February 21, 2006; [http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2006/02/21/news-gbjgdamsreports-02-21.html Dams in good shape] ; "Times Herald Record "; retrieved November 17, 2006]The condition of the dams notwithstanding, falsifying public records is potentially second-degree
forgery , a Class Dfelony under the New York State Penal Law.NYSPL § 170.10(2).] City and state officials promised to investigate the matter and discipline any employees involved in wrongdoing. Later Betters and Hewlett were suspended.Bruno and Gardner; February 10, 2006; [http://archive.recordonline.com/archive/2006/02/10/news-jggbinspectors-02-10.html Employees suspended] ; "Times Herald Record"; retrieved November 17, 2006.]tatistics
The resulting body of water is a single basin 6.5 miles (9.7 km) long, [http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/watershed/html/rondoutinfo.html Rondout Reservoir] at NYCDEP site; retrieved November 17, 2006.] 2,052 acres (8.2 km²) in area and reaches a maximum depth of 175 feet (53.3 m) near the dam. Mean depth is 73.8 feet (22.4 m). Elevation is 840 feet (256 m) above sea level.
It holds 49.6 billion gallons (187.4 million m³), which comes not only from the reservoir's own 95 square-mile (247 km²) watershed but from Cannonsville, Neversink, and Pepacton reservoirs via the Delaware and Neversink tunnels as well. Since those three are in the
Delaware River watershed, Rondout is considered by the city's Department of Environmental Protection to be part of the Delaware system despite being firmly within theHudson River watershed itself.Combined, the four reservoirs account for 1,012 square miles (2,631.2 km²) of watershed and 320.4 billion gallons (1.2 billion m³) of capacity, 890 million gallons (3.4 million m³) of which goes to the city daily — 50% of the entire system's capacity. All this water is fed from the Rondout to
West Branch Reservoir in Putnam County via theDelaware Aqueduct , the world's longest continuous underground tunnel at 85 miles (136 km).Access and recreational use
Rondout is easy to reach via road as routes 55 and 55A form a loop around it. However, access to the actual reservoir is tightly restricted and has been even more so since the
September 11, 2001 attacks forced an increase in security.Fishing is permitted in season with a DEP-issued permit in addition to the appropriate New York state license, and the reservoir is known, as with most Catskill fishing areas, for its
trout . Howeverboat s are not allowed to leave the reservoir for environmental reasons and must be stored near it year round. Hunters with valid city and state permits may also use the lands around the reservoir where hunting is permitted during the season. Beyond those, however, no recreational use of the reservoir is permitted. While the land is not fenced off, the area is regularly patrolled by uniformed DEP police.References
ee also
*
List of reservoirs and dams in New York External links
* [http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/watershed/html/rondoutinfo.html Official nyc.gov page]
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