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| Ashokan Reservoir | |
|---|---|
 Ashokan Reservoir in July 2016 | |
  Ashokan Reservoir  Ashokan Reservoir | |
| Location | Ulster County, New York, United States |
| Coordinates | 41°57′N74°13′W / 41.950°N 74.217°W /41.950; -74.217 |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Esopus Creek |
| Primary outflows | Esopus Creek |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Max. width | 1 mi (2 km) |
| Surface area | 8,300 acres (3,400 ha) |
| Average depth | 46 ft (14 m) |
| Max. depth | 190 ft (58 m) |
| Water volume | 122.9 billion US gal (465 million m3) |
| Shore length1 | 40 mi (60 km) |
| Surface elevation | 585 ft (178 m) |
| 1 Shore length isnot a well-defined measure. | |
TheAshokan Reservoir (/əˈʃoʊkæn/;Iroquois for "place of fish")[1] is areservoir in theNew York City water supply system inUlster County, New York. It receives the waters ofSchoharie Reservoir, and together they provide the flow of theCatskill Aqueduct, which mixes with water from theDelaware Aqueduct at theKensico Reservoir inWestchester County, New York, and after settling continues into theHillview Reservoir inYonkers for distribution in New York City.
Ashokan Reservoir lies is at the eastern end of theCatskill Park, and at 190 feet (58 m) near the dam at the former site of Bishop Falls is the New York City system's deepest reservoir.
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New York City turned to theCatskill Mountains for water in the early 20th century after discovering that a group ofspeculators calling itself the Ramapo Water Company had bought upriparian rights to many water sources further south inRockland,Orange andUlster counties. The Catskills were more desirable, as state-ownedForest Preserve land in the region could not, under the state constitution, be sold to any other party. A recent amendment to that section of the state constitution also allowed up to 3 percent of the total Forest Preserve land to be flooded for reservoirs.
In 1905 the New York State Legislature enacted legislation that created the New York City Board of Water Supply and allowed the city to acquire lands and build dams, reservoirs and aqueducts in the Catskills.[2] The result was the construction of theSchoharie and Ashokan reservoirs of theCatskill Aqueduct, and the four reservoirs to the south that supply theDelaware Aqueduct.
Residents of the area to be flooded for construction of the Ashokan Reservoir did not take kindly to the idea, and foughteminent domain proceedings. They were aided by local lawyers familiar with the troubled history of Catskill land claims. Local opponents of the reservoir cast doubt on its soundness, claiming that even as one of the largest reservoirs in the world at the time[3] it could never hold enough water for its needs; when it was filled from 1912 to 1914 they were silenced. Still, it would be 1940 before the last land claims were settled.
The Ashokan Reservoir was constructed between 1907 and 1915, by the New York City Board of Water Supply, by impounding theEsopus Creek.[2] Numerous test shafts were dug to determine the stability of the area's sub-surface geology to ensure both the impermeability of the completed reservoir and holding strength of its various levees, tunnels, dikes, and dam.[4] Thousands of acres of farmland were submerged.[3] The impoundment covered 12 communities located in a valley where farming, logging, and quarrying prevailed. Approximately 2,000 residents were displaced,[2] and roads and anything that couldn't be moved were either torn down or abandoned. Nearly twelve and a half miles (20.1 km) of a local railroad line (theUlster and Delaware Railroad) was moved and cemeteries were relocated. The area that became the West Basin of the reservoir contained 504 dwellings, nine blacksmith shops, 35 stores, 10 churches, 10 schools, seven sawmills and a gristmill.[3] Several of these communities were re-established in nearby locations.
The dam was constructed mainly by local laborers,[citation needed] as well as African-Americans and Italian immigrants, who also did the job of razing most of the trees and buildings in the area. Fights would often break out in the labor camps where the crews would eat and sleep, so a police force, which would later become theNew York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Police, was established to keep peace. The dam was constructed withRosendale cement, which at the time was the world's strongest. When the dam was completed, giant steam whistles blew for one hour, signaling to people in the valley to evacuate immediately.
Some relocated communities survive along the reservoir's banks, includingWest Shokan,Olivebridge,Ashokan, andShokan. Most, includingBrown's Station, are remembered in historical markers along routes28 and28A.
The Ashokan Reservoir is fed by its 255 sq mi (660 km2)watershed, and absorbs the waters of the 17.6×10^9 US gal (67,000,000 m3)Schoharie Reservoir via the 16 mi (26 km)Shandaken Tunnel, which empties into theEsopus Creek 11 miles (18 km) upstream of Ashokan. Ashokan is the oldest New York City–owned reservoir in theCatskill Mountains, being placed into service in 1915. It is located at the eastern end ofUlster County, about 13 miles (21 km) west ofKingston, New York, and approximately 93 miles (150 km) north ofNew York City. One of New York City's largest according to its surface area and volume, the reservoir covers 8,300 acres (3,400 ha), can hold 122.9 billion US gallons (465,000,000 m3) of water at full capacity; it is also the city's deepest reservoir, at over 190 feet (58 m) at its deepest point.
The reservoir is encircled by Routes28 and28A, along with many relocated villages. It is separated into two basins by acauseway carrying Reservoir Road. Thanks to a weir integrated into the causeway water does not pass freely between the two basins, and the eastern basin, which borders the relocated villages of Ashokan, Glenford, and West Hurley, along with the non-relocated village of Stony Hollow, is seven inches lower than the western basin.[citation needed] The western basin borders the relocated villages of Boiceville, Brodhead, Olive, Olivebridge, Shokan, and West Shokan. There is also an abandoned road that runs along the spillway of the reservoir, where water runs back into the Esopus Creek by Olivebridge.
Water from the Ashokan flows intoOlivebridge, New York, and enters the 92-mile (148 km)Catskill Aqueduct, which empties into theKensico Reservoir on the east bank of theHudson River just north ofWhite Plains. There it mixes with water from theDelaware Aqueduct and the Kensico watershed, and after settling continues into theHillview Reservoir inYonkers for distribution in New York City.
To protect the water system, reservoir, dam, and users, only limited activities are permitted around the reservoir property, including fishing and logging. A special license is required for each. Gasoline-powered watercraft are prohibited.
Pine and spruce trees were planted around the banks at the time of dam and lake construction to prevent erosion. It was also believed by engineers of the time that broad-leaved deciduous trees polluted the water with nutrients more so than conifers.
After theSeptember 11 attacks, the city and state decided to permanently close thespillway road to vehicular traffic as a security precaution. This has added a great deal more traveling time and distance for those on the south side of the reservoir to reach locations to the north. The city compensates the local school district for the extra fuel costs its buses have incurred. The Reservoir Road causeway, however, is still open.
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