Rensselaer Lake
Encyclopedia
Rensselaer Lake is an artificial lake in Albany
, New York
, United States
named for Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer, last patroon
of Rensselaerswyck. The lake was Albany's first municipally-owned source of water. It is part of a 57 acres (23.1 ha) park and the state's Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The lake and park have been under the purview of the Albany Water Authority since 2003.
of the Patroon Creek
in the western section of the city of Albany. Once the location of several feeder streams that formed the creek, the land was purchased by the city in 1850 and dammed in 1851 as the city's first municipal source of water. The dam was located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) from Albany City Hall
, lending the lake its original name of the Six Mile Waterworks. Prior to this, the city was served by a private company, the Albany Waterworks Company. The lake fed water to the Bleecker Reservoir
where it was used by portions of the city west of Pearl Street to the area around Lark Street
. The lake was used as a water supply until 1926, and became a city park under Mayor Erastus Corning II in 1956.
In the late 1990s the Six Mile Waterworks was restored after decades of disrepair. The city partnered with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, area schools, businesses, youth organizations and individual sponsors to build new docks, a boardwalk, and a nature trail. An open-air interpretive center is planned.
In 2003, the Albany Water Authority paid the city of Albany $7 million for a 50-year lease of the Six Mile Waterworks and Rensselaer Lake for use as an emergency backup water supply. This included the entire 206 acres (83.4 ha) city park and helped balance the city's budgets for 2002, 2003, and 2004. This sale was criticized as being a fiscal trick
, shifting some of the tax burden from residents' property tax bills to their water bills. City property taxes increased that year 7.4 percent, and the water authority also tacked on a 9.5 percent rate increase.
. It is the namesake and central feature of the Albany Pine Bush Rensselaer Lake Preserve and Park, also known as the Six Mile Waterworks. It is a part of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
The Adirondack Northway (I-87
) is carried over a narrow channel
of the lake by a bridge just north of Exit 1. The channel connects the main eastern basin to a shallower western basin which has a depth of 15 feet (4.6 m). Exit 1 and Interstate 90
(I-90) are directly south of the lake and preserve. To the north of the lake and preserve is the town of Guilderland
and CSXT
railroad tracks. West of the lake is Rapp Road; to the east is Fuller Road and Exit 2 of I-90. The Patroon Creek flows east from the lake towards the Hudson River
.
The western section of the lake has two forks fed by inlet streams; the northern fork by groundwater, and the southern fork by a 1150 feet (350.5 m) stream created by two drainage culverts and groundwater seepage. The two forks merge 2300 feet (701 m) past the southern inlet stream. The lake has a surface area of 35.3 acres (14.3 ha). It has a mean depth of 11 feet (3.4 m) with a maximum depth of over 20 feet (6.1 m).
. A nature viewing platform allows visitors to view wildlife along a wetland on the lake without disturbing the environment. Two large docks allow for access to the lake by boat.
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
named for Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer, last patroon
Patroon
In the United States, a patroon was a landholder with manorial rights to large tracts of land in the 17th century Dutch colony of New Netherland in North America...
of Rensselaerswyck. The lake was Albany's first municipally-owned source of water. It is part of a 57 acres (23.1 ha) park and the state's Albany Pine Bush Preserve. The lake and park have been under the purview of the Albany Water Authority since 2003.
History
Rensselaer Lake is at the headwatersSource (river or stream)
The source or headwaters of a river or stream is the place from which the water in the river or stream originates.-Definition:There is no universally agreed upon definition for determining a stream's source...
of the Patroon Creek
Patroon Creek
Patroon Creek is a stream in Albany County, New York, United States and is a tributary of the Hudson River which flows south to New York Harbor and the Atlantic Ocean. The creek's source is Rensselaer Lake in the western section of the city of Albany and flows along the northern border of said city...
in the western section of the city of Albany. Once the location of several feeder streams that formed the creek, the land was purchased by the city in 1850 and dammed in 1851 as the city's first municipal source of water. The dam was located roughly 6 miles (9.7 km) from Albany City Hall
Albany City Hall
Albany City Hall is the seat of government of the city of Albany, New York. It houses the office of the mayor, the Common Council chamber, the city and traffic courts, as well as other city services. The current building was designed by Henry Hobson Richardson in his particular Romanesque style and...
, lending the lake its original name of the Six Mile Waterworks. Prior to this, the city was served by a private company, the Albany Waterworks Company. The lake fed water to the Bleecker Reservoir
Bleecker Stadium
Bleecker Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Albany, New York. The stadium was once a reservoir for the Albany public water system. Today it has a baseball diamond, football/soccer field, and a softball field used by area high schools, colleges, and youth and adult leagues...
where it was used by portions of the city west of Pearl Street to the area around Lark Street
Lark Street
Lark Street is a historic street in Albany, New York. It is part of the "Arbor Hill, "Center Square", "Park South", and "Hudson/Park" neighborhoods, and is located one block east of Washington Park. Lark Street is home to many independently owned shops, coffee houses, restaurants, art galleries,...
. The lake was used as a water supply until 1926, and became a city park under Mayor Erastus Corning II in 1956.
In the late 1990s the Six Mile Waterworks was restored after decades of disrepair. The city partnered with the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, area schools, businesses, youth organizations and individual sponsors to build new docks, a boardwalk, and a nature trail. An open-air interpretive center is planned.
In 2003, the Albany Water Authority paid the city of Albany $7 million for a 50-year lease of the Six Mile Waterworks and Rensselaer Lake for use as an emergency backup water supply. This included the entire 206 acres (83.4 ha) city park and helped balance the city's budgets for 2002, 2003, and 2004. This sale was criticized as being a fiscal trick
Creative accounting
Creative accounting and earnings management are euphemisms referring to accounting practices that may follow the letter of the rules of standard accounting practices, but certainly deviate from the spirit of those rules...
, shifting some of the tax burden from residents' property tax bills to their water bills. City property taxes increased that year 7.4 percent, and the water authority also tacked on a 9.5 percent rate increase.
Geography
Rensselaer Lake is located in the western section of the city of Albany, with a portion stretching into the neighboring town of GuilderlandGuilderland, New York
Guilderland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. In the 2010 census, the town had a population of 35,303. The town is named for the Gelderland province in the Netherlands....
. It is the namesake and central feature of the Albany Pine Bush Rensselaer Lake Preserve and Park, also known as the Six Mile Waterworks. It is a part of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve.
The Adirondack Northway (I-87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
) is carried over a narrow channel
Channel (geography)
In physical geography, a channel is the physical confine of a river, slough or ocean strait consisting of a bed and banks.A channel is also the natural or human-made deeper course through a reef, sand bar, bay, or any shallow body of water...
of the lake by a bridge just north of Exit 1. The channel connects the main eastern basin to a shallower western basin which has a depth of 15 feet (4.6 m). Exit 1 and Interstate 90
Interstate 90
Interstate 90 is the longest Interstate Highway in the United States at . It is the northernmost coast-to-coast interstate, and parallels US 20 for the most part. Its western terminus is in Seattle, at Edgar Martinez Drive S. near Safeco Field and CenturyLink Field, and its eastern terminus is in...
(I-90) are directly south of the lake and preserve. To the north of the lake and preserve is the town of Guilderland
Guilderland, New York
Guilderland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. In the 2010 census, the town had a population of 35,303. The town is named for the Gelderland province in the Netherlands....
and CSXT
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
railroad tracks. West of the lake is Rapp Road; to the east is Fuller Road and Exit 2 of I-90. The Patroon Creek flows east from the lake towards the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
.
The western section of the lake has two forks fed by inlet streams; the northern fork by groundwater, and the southern fork by a 1150 feet (350.5 m) stream created by two drainage culverts and groundwater seepage. The two forks merge 2300 feet (701 m) past the southern inlet stream. The lake has a surface area of 35.3 acres (14.3 ha). It has a mean depth of 11 feet (3.4 m) with a maximum depth of over 20 feet (6.1 m).
Recreation
Rensselaer Lake and the park surrounding it allow fishing, boating, hiking, and picnicking; there is also a playground. The lake is stocked several times a year from the city's current source of water, the Alcove ReservoirAlcove Reservoir
Alcove Reservoir is a reservoir located in Albany County, New York, United States. It serves as water supply for the city of Albany. At in elevation, the closest hamlet is Alcove, part of the town of Coeymans. New York State Route 32 passes the reservoir on the west...
. A nature viewing platform allows visitors to view wildlife along a wetland on the lake without disturbing the environment. Two large docks allow for access to the lake by boat.