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Ashokan Reservoir
The Ashokan Reservoir (/əˈʃoʊkæn/; Iroquois for "place of fish") is a reservoir in the New York City water supply system in Ulster County, New York. It receives the waters of Schoharie Reservoir, and together they provide the flow of the Catskill Aqueduct, which mixes with water from the Delaware Aqueduct at the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County, New York, and after settling continues into the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers for distribution in New York City.
Ashokan Reservoir lies is at the eastern end of the Catskill 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.
New York City turned to the Catskill Mountains for water in the early 20th century after discovering that a group of speculators calling itself the Ramapo Water Company had bought up riparian rights to many water sources further south in Rockland, Orange and Ulster counties. The Catskills were more desirable, as state-owned Forest 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. The result was the construction of the Schoharie and Ashokan reservoirs of the Catskill Aqueduct, and the four reservoirs to the south that supply the Delaware Aqueduct.
Residents of the area to be flooded for construction of the Ashokan Reservoir did not take kindly to the idea, and fought eminent 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 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 the Esopus Creek. 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. Thousands of acres of farmland were submerged. The impoundment covered 12 communities located in a valley where farming, logging, and quarrying prevailed. Approximately 2,000 residents were displaced, 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 (the Ulster 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. 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 the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Police, was established to keep peace. The dam was constructed with Rosendale 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, including West Shokan, Olivebridge, Ashokan, and Shokan. Most, including Brown's Station, are remembered in historical markers along routes 28 and 28A.
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Ashokan Reservoir AI simulator
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Ashokan Reservoir
The Ashokan Reservoir (/əˈʃoʊkæn/; Iroquois for "place of fish") is a reservoir in the New York City water supply system in Ulster County, New York. It receives the waters of Schoharie Reservoir, and together they provide the flow of the Catskill Aqueduct, which mixes with water from the Delaware Aqueduct at the Kensico Reservoir in Westchester County, New York, and after settling continues into the Hillview Reservoir in Yonkers for distribution in New York City.
Ashokan Reservoir lies is at the eastern end of the Catskill 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.
New York City turned to the Catskill Mountains for water in the early 20th century after discovering that a group of speculators calling itself the Ramapo Water Company had bought up riparian rights to many water sources further south in Rockland, Orange and Ulster counties. The Catskills were more desirable, as state-owned Forest 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. The result was the construction of the Schoharie and Ashokan reservoirs of the Catskill Aqueduct, and the four reservoirs to the south that supply the Delaware Aqueduct.
Residents of the area to be flooded for construction of the Ashokan Reservoir did not take kindly to the idea, and fought eminent 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 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 the Esopus Creek. 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. Thousands of acres of farmland were submerged. The impoundment covered 12 communities located in a valley where farming, logging, and quarrying prevailed. Approximately 2,000 residents were displaced, 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 (the Ulster 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. 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 the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP) Police, was established to keep peace. The dam was constructed with Rosendale 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, including West Shokan, Olivebridge, Ashokan, and Shokan. Most, including Brown's Station, are remembered in historical markers along routes 28 and 28A.