Lows Lake
Encyclopedia
Lows Lake is a reservoir
in the Adirondack Park in northeastern New York
. It is located in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area
, 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Tupper Lake
. The lake is part of the Bog River Flow. While it is largely surrounded by New York State Forest Preserve, the northeast shore is privately held, along with a few small parcels that border the lake. The lake lies within the towns of Colton
, Clifton
, and Long Lake
.
The lake was named after A. Augustus Low, son of Abiel Abbot Low
; Low owned 40000 acres (161.9 km²) in this vicinity early in the 20th century. Low constructed two hydroelectric dams along the eastern portion of the Bog River Flow; the upper dam, where most of Low's main buildings were located, created Lows Lake. On the granite ledge above the second dam, there is a plaque commemorating the Low's memory. His ashes were spread from the ledge.
Sabattis Scout Reservation owns a portion of the lake with three islands and has a Boy Scout
camp located near the mid-eastern and northern portion.
Grass Pond Mountain, 2240 feet (682.8 m), lies directly north of the lake and has expansive views from its summit. Graves Mountain, 2300 feet (701 m), is named after a 19th century hunter from Tupper Lake
; its southern flank was eroded after the forest fire of 1906, exposing a large granite face; a survey marker is located at its peak.
"Horsehead Island", actually a floating bog
, was located at the western end of Lows Lake for many years. In the 1980s a large portion separated from the mass and now sits halfway easterly in the lake near a campsite known as Boone's landing. The bog is filled with an impressive number of large pitcher plants and other bog plant material.
The western end of Lows Lake lies deep within the proposed Adirondacks "Bob Marshall Wilderness", (there is another in Montana
). At the western end of the lake is a three and one-half mile carry
to the Oswegatchie River
. This trail passes by a huge blowdown
from 1995, Big Deer Pond
and a long esker
before reaching the upper source of the Oswegatchie River
. There is a large beaver dam, followed by the Big Deer Pond outlet north approximately 1/4 mile to the St. Lawrence
-Herkimer
-Hamilton
county marker. Slightly south of the marker stands what is purportedly the widest White Pine
in the Adirondacks.
A controversy arose in 2008 over the use of floatplanes on Lows Lake, when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
proposed allowing them to land on the lake for an additional ten year period; under the 2003 Bog River Complex Unit Management Plan, DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency
had agreed that floatplanes would be banned starting in January, 2008.
Ultimately, the APA has decided to classify the lake as Wilderness, which will exclude floatplanes starting in 2011.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in the Adirondack Park in northeastern New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is located in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area
Five Ponds Wilderness Area
The Five Ponds Wilderness Area, an Adirondack Park unit of New York's Forest Preserve, is located in the towns of Fine and Clifton in St. Lawrence County, the town of Webb in Herkimer County and the town of Long Lake in Hamilton County...
, 10 miles (16.1 km) southwest of Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake (New York)
Tupper Lake is a lake in New York in the USA. The lake is in the Adirondack Park and crosses the county lines of St. Lawrence County and Franklin County....
. The lake is part of the Bog River Flow. While it is largely surrounded by New York State Forest Preserve, the northeast shore is privately held, along with a few small parcels that border the lake. The lake lies within the towns of Colton
Colton, New York
Colton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 1,453 at the 2000 census. The town, originally named Matildaville, is named after early settler Jesse Colton Higley....
, Clifton
Clifton, New York
Clifton is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 791 at the 2000 census. The town takes its name from a mining company.The Town of Clifton is in the south part of the county, within the Adirondack Park....
, and Long Lake
Long Lake, New York
Long Lake is a town in Hamilton County, New York in the United States. The population was 852 at the 2000 census. The town is named for long Long Lake beside which it sits. The town is entirely within the Adirondack Park and is the most northerly town in the county. It is a summer tourism...
.
The lake was named after A. Augustus Low, son of Abiel Abbot Low
Abiel Abbot Low
Abiel Abbot Low was an American entrepreneur, businessman, trader and philanthropist who gained most of his fortune from the China trade, importing teas, porcelains, and silk, and building and operating a fleet of reputable clipper ships.- Early life :Abiel Abbot Low was one of twelve children of...
; Low owned 40000 acres (161.9 km²) in this vicinity early in the 20th century. Low constructed two hydroelectric dams along the eastern portion of the Bog River Flow; the upper dam, where most of Low's main buildings were located, created Lows Lake. On the granite ledge above the second dam, there is a plaque commemorating the Low's memory. His ashes were spread from the ledge.
Sabattis Scout Reservation owns a portion of the lake with three islands and has a Boy Scout
Boy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
camp located near the mid-eastern and northern portion.
Grass Pond Mountain, 2240 feet (682.8 m), lies directly north of the lake and has expansive views from its summit. Graves Mountain, 2300 feet (701 m), is named after a 19th century hunter from Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake
Tupper Lake is the name of several locations in the State of New York in the USA.* Tupper Lake, a lake in the Adirondack Park.* Village of Tupper Lake.* Town of Tupper Lake....
; its southern flank was eroded after the forest fire of 1906, exposing a large granite face; a survey marker is located at its peak.
"Horsehead Island", actually a floating bog
Bog
A bog, quagmire or mire is a wetland that accumulates acidic peat, a deposit of dead plant material—often mosses or, in Arctic climates, lichens....
, was located at the western end of Lows Lake for many years. In the 1980s a large portion separated from the mass and now sits halfway easterly in the lake near a campsite known as Boone's landing. The bog is filled with an impressive number of large pitcher plants and other bog plant material.
The western end of Lows Lake lies deep within the proposed Adirondacks "Bob Marshall Wilderness", (there is another in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
). At the western end of the lake is a three and one-half mile carry
Portage
Portage or portaging refers to the practice of carrying watercraft or cargo over land to avoid river obstacles, or between two bodies of water. A place where this carrying occurs is also called a portage; a person doing the carrying is called a porter.The English word portage is derived from the...
to the Oswegatchie River
Oswegatchie River
The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York that flows north from the Adirondack Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River at the city of Ogdensburg. The river mouth was the site of a Jesuit mission, Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749. Also a fur trading post, the village had 3,000...
. This trail passes by a huge blowdown
Blowdown
Blowdown may refer to:* Windthrow* Blowdown stack* Boiler blowdown* The sudden release of the contents of a nuclear power plant's reactor pressure vessel due to a materials failure, such as a crack in that vessel....
from 1995, Big Deer Pond
Big Deer Pond
Big Deer Pond is located approximately 1.5 west of Lows Lake in the Five Ponds Wilderness Area and the Adirondacks "Bob Marshall Wilderness" area . It serves as a 1/2 mile water-portage between Lows Lake and the upper Oswegatchie River. The portage is a total of 3.5 miles through blowdown of...
and a long esker
Esker
An esker is a long winding ridge of stratified sand and gravel, examples of which occur in glaciated and formerly glaciated regions of Europe and North America...
before reaching the upper source of the Oswegatchie River
Oswegatchie River
The Oswegatchie River is a river in northern New York that flows north from the Adirondack Mountains to the Saint Lawrence River at the city of Ogdensburg. The river mouth was the site of a Jesuit mission, Fort de La Présentation, founded in 1749. Also a fur trading post, the village had 3,000...
. There is a large beaver dam, followed by the Big Deer Pond outlet north approximately 1/4 mile to the St. Lawrence
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
-Herkimer
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
-Hamilton
Hamilton County, New York
Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It is named after Alexander Hamilton, the only member of the New York State delegation who signed the United States Constitution in 1787 and later the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Its county seat is Lake Pleasant...
county marker. Slightly south of the marker stands what is purportedly the widest White Pine
Eastern White Pine
Pinus strobus, commonly known as the eastern white pine, is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the northern edge of Georgia.It is occasionally known as simply white pine,...
in the Adirondacks.
A controversy arose in 2008 over the use of floatplanes on Lows Lake, when the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation is responsible for the conservation, improvement, and protection of natural resources within the U.S. state of New York. It was founded in 1970, replacing the previous Conservation Department...
proposed allowing them to land on the lake for an additional ten year period; under the 2003 Bog River Complex Unit Management Plan, DEC and the Adirondack Park Agency
Adirondack Park Agency
The Adirondack Park Agency was created in 1971 by New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller as a governmental agency that performs long-range planning for the future of the Adirondack Park. It oversees development plans of private land-owners as well as activities within the Adirondack Forest Preserve...
had agreed that floatplanes would be banned starting in January, 2008.
Ultimately, the APA has decided to classify the lake as Wilderness, which will exclude floatplanes starting in 2011.