Pepacton Reservoir
Encyclopedia
The Pepacton Reservoir, also known as the Downsville Reservoir or the Downsville Dam, is a reservoir
in Delaware County, New York
that was formed by impounding over ¼ of the East Branch of the Delaware River. New York City purchased the valley in 1942, displacing 974 people, destroying four towns (Arena, Pepacton, Shavertown and Union Grove), and submerging nearly ½ of the Delaware and Northern Railroad
in the process. The dam, located at Downsville, New York
, was finished in 1954, and the flooding was completed in 1955.
"Peapackton", is a Lenape Native American term meaning "marriage of the waters."
The reservoir is 12 miles (19.2 km) south of the village of Delhi, New York
, and is 101 miles (161.6 km) northwest of New York City
. The reservoir is a narrow, winding reservoir that is 15 miles (24 km) long and about 0.7 miles (1.12 km) across at its widest point. The reservoir contains 430256 acre.ft of water at full capacity, and is over 160 feet (43.2 m) deep at maximum. This makes it NYC's biggest reservoir by volume.
The Pepacton Reservoir supplies New York City with nearly 25% of its drinking water. The water flows through the reservoir, and then empties into the 25.5-mile (40.8 km) East Delaware Tunnel
near the former site of Pepacton. The water travels through the aqueduct into the Rondout Reservoir
, and empties into the 85-mile (136 km) Delaware Aqueduct
. The water then flows into the Kensico Reservoir
just north of The Bronx
.
The reservoir is a significant factor in the local economy of Downsville, New York
, as thousands of tourists travel to Downsville each year to fish for trout
. No motor boats are allowed on the reservoir.
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 Delaware County, New York
Delaware County, New York
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of 2010 the population was 47,980. The county seat is Delhi. It is named after the Delaware River, which was named in honor of Thomas West, 3rd Baron De La Warr, appointed governor of Virginia in 1609.-History:When counties...
that was formed by impounding over ¼ of the East Branch of the Delaware River. New York City purchased the valley in 1942, displacing 974 people, destroying four towns (Arena, Pepacton, Shavertown and Union Grove), and submerging nearly ½ of the Delaware and Northern Railroad
Delaware and Northern Railroad
The Delaware and Northern Railroad was a small railroad in Delaware County that was founded in 1905, and was planned to go from East Branch, where it would make a connection with the New York, Ontario and Western Railway, to Arkville, where it would connect with the Ulster and Delaware...
in the process. The dam, located at Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York is a hamlet and former village within the town of Colchester in Delaware County, New York.It is the site of the Downsville Bridge, a covered bridge and the historic Union Free School....
, was finished in 1954, and the flooding was completed in 1955.
"Peapackton", is a Lenape Native American term meaning "marriage of the waters."
The reservoir is 12 miles (19.2 km) south of the village of Delhi, New York
Delhi (village), New York
Delhi is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 2,583 at the 2000 census. Delhi is the county seat of Delaware County...
, and is 101 miles (161.6 km) northwest of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The reservoir is a narrow, winding reservoir that is 15 miles (24 km) long and about 0.7 miles (1.12 km) across at its widest point. The reservoir contains 430256 acre.ft of water at full capacity, and is over 160 feet (43.2 m) deep at maximum. This makes it NYC's biggest reservoir by volume.
The Pepacton Reservoir supplies New York City with nearly 25% of its drinking water. The water flows through the reservoir, and then empties into the 25.5-mile (40.8 km) East Delaware Tunnel
East Delaware Tunnel
The East Delaware Tunnel is a aqueduct in the Catskill Mountains of New York State. It was constructed within a six-year period between 1949 and 1955 to transport drinking water from the Pepacton Reservoir to the Rondout Reservoir, both of which supply New York City with drinking water...
near the former site of Pepacton. The water travels through the aqueduct into the Rondout Reservoir
Rondout Reservoir
Rondout Reservoir is part of New York City's water supply network. It is located 75 miles northwest of the city in the Catskill Mountains, near the southern end of Catskill Park, split between the towns of Wawarsing in Ulster County and Neversink in Sullivan County...
, and empties into the 85-mile (136 km) Delaware Aqueduct
Delaware Aqueduct
The Delaware Aqueduct is the newest of the New York City aqueducts. It takes water from the Rondout Reservoir through the Chelsea Pump Station, the West Branch Reservoir, and the Kensico Reservoir, ending at the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers, New York....
. The water then flows into the Kensico Reservoir
Kensico Reservoir
The Kensico Reservoir is a reservoir, located in the village of Valhalla and in the town of North Castle, that was put into service in 1915. It is about 3 miles north of White Plains, New York, and about 15 miles north of New York City...
just north of The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
.
The reservoir is a significant factor in the local economy of Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York
Downsville, New York is a hamlet and former village within the town of Colchester in Delaware County, New York.It is the site of the Downsville Bridge, a covered bridge and the historic Union Free School....
, as thousands of tourists travel to Downsville each year to fish for trout
Trout
Trout is the name for a number of species of freshwater and saltwater fish belonging to the Salmoninae subfamily of the family Salmonidae. Salmon belong to the same family as trout. Most salmon species spend almost all their lives in salt water...
. No motor boats are allowed on the reservoir.