- Pepacton Reservoir
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Pepacton Reservoir Location Delaware County, New York Coordinates 42°04′52″N 74°54′38″W / 42.0812°N 74.9106°WCoordinates: 42°04′52″N 74°54′38″W / 42.0812°N 74.9106°W Lake type reservoir Primary inflows East Branch of the Delaware River Basin countries United States Max. length 15 mi (24 km) Max. width 0.7 mi (1.12 km) Max. depth 160 ft (49 m) Water volume 430,256 acre feet (530,713,000 m3) 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 430,256 acre feet (530,713,000 m3) 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.
See also
Reservoirs
(Croton Watershed)Reservoirs
(Catskill/Delaware Watershed)Ashokan Reservoir · Kensico Reservoir · Schoharie Reservoir · Rondout Reservoir · Neversink Reservoir · Pepacton Reservoir · Cannonsville ReservoirControlled Lakes Waterways Croton River · West Branch Croton River · Middle Branch Croton River · East Branch Croton River · Titicus River · Muscoot River · Cross River · Esopus Creek · Neversink River · Rondout Creek · Delaware River · East Branch Delaware River · West Branch Delaware RiverAqueducts New Croton Aqueduct · Croton Aqueduct (decommissioned) · Catskill Aqueduct · Shandaken Tunnel · Delaware Aqueduct · Neversink Tunnel · East Delaware Tunnel · West Delaware TunnelStorage Reservoirs Croton Distributing Reservoir (decommissioned) · Highbridge Reservoir (decommissioned) · Hillview Reservoir · Jerome Park Reservoir · Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir (decommissioned) · Silver Lake Reservoir · Ridgewood Reservoir (decommissioned) · Williamsbridge Reservoir (decommissioned)Distribution Tunnels New York City Water Tunnel No. 1 · New York City Water Tunnel No. 2 · New York City Water Tunnel No. 3 (under construction) · Richmond TunnelCategories:- Delaware River
- Catskill/Delaware Watersheds
- Reservoirs in New York
- Protected areas of Delaware County, New York
- Place names in New York of Native American origin
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