Schoharie Reservoir

Schoharie Reservoir
Name	Schoharie Reservoir
Location	Greene County, New York
Type	Reservoir
Inflow	Schoharie Creek
Outflow	Schoharie Creek to Esopus Creek
Catchment	Catskill Mountains
Basin countries	United States
Area	4.9 km²
Volume	17,000 acre-feet
Elevation	610 ft

Schoharie Reservoir is a man-made impoundment in Greene County, New York located within the Catskill Mountains and forming part of the New York City water supply system. The impoundment collects headwaters of the Schoharie Creek and interacts with major regional infrastructure such as the Devil's Hole, Gilboa Dam, and the Washington Irving Trail corridor. It serves potable supply, flood control, and ecological functions while being subject to oversight by agencies including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Overview

The reservoir occupies a valley in the Town of Schoharie watershed set within the Hudson Valley physiographic province and drains to the Mohawk River basin through a sequence of conduits and tunnels linked to the Catskill Aqueduct network. It lies near communities such as Prattsville, Blakeley, and Middleburgh and is accessed from regional routes including New York State Route 23A and County Route 10. The impoundment interfaces with recreational lands managed alongside holdings like Catskill Park and conservation easements held by entities such as the Open Space Institute.

History and construction

Plans for the impoundment were developed during expansion phases of the New York City water supply system in the 20th century after studies by engineers associated with firms like Olmsted Brothers and consultants informed by precedents such as Ashokan Reservoir and Pepacton Reservoir. Construction began with acquisition and relocation actions involving local landowners and municipal bodies including the Town of Gilboa and negotiations influenced by statutes enacted by the New York State Legislature. Major civil works were carried out by contractors experienced from projects like the Teton Dam and employed techniques used on projects such as the Hoover Dam including cofferdams, concrete grouting, and earthfill embankments. The reservoir entered service to feed the Catskill System following completion of associated tunnels and valves coordinated with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Hydrology and watershed

Sourced primarily by the Schoharie Creek headwaters, the impoundment receives runoff influenced by precipitation patterns documented by the National Weather Service and streamflow regimes monitored by the United States Geological Survey. Its watershed encompasses upland forests dominated by species typical of the Allegheny Plateau and soils cataloged by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Hydrologic controls include spillway gates, intake towers, and emergency drawdown facilities and are integrated with downstream flood attenuation systems at installations such as Blauvelt Reservoir and the Saw Mill River Parkway crossings. Water-quality parameters follow protocols established under the Safe Drinking Water Act and are sampled in coordination with laboratories certified by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Role in New York City water supply

The impoundment functions as a supplementary storage and regulation component within the Catskill/Delaware Water Supply System, transferring screened water via tunnels and pumping stations to terminal reservoirs serving Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. Operational coordination is undertaken with facilities like Ashokan Reservoir and the Cannonsville Reservoir to balance seasonal demand and emergency contingencies tested during events such as Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. Regulatory compliance involves coordination with agencies including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the New York State Department of Health, and federal entities such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency for long-term source protection and filtration avoidance criteria debated in legal proceedings involving municipalities and advocacy groups like the Riverkeeper.

Environmental and ecological impacts

Creation of the impoundment altered riparian habitat and required mitigation measures overseen by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and nongovernmental organizations including the Nature Conservancy. Impacts included shifts in fish communities managed under stocking programs by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Fisheries Unit and changes to macroinvertebrate assemblages monitored by researchers at institutions such as Columbia University and Cornell University. Terrestrial effects included forest fragmentation addressed by conservation easements and habitat restoration projects sometimes funded through federal programs administered by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and state grant-makers like the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation. Water-quality issues such as turbidity, dissolved oxygen variation, and nutrient loading prompted best-management practices in the surrounding landscape implemented by county soil and water conservation districts including the Schoharie County Soil and Water Conservation District.

Recreation and access

Public access is managed under rules set by the New York City Department of Environmental Protection with limited recreational activities coordinated with local governments such as the Town of Gilboa and park bodies like Catskill Park. Nearby attractions and trails include portions of the Long Path, views toward Slide Mountain, and educational sites such as the Gilboa Fossil Forest and regional museums like the Greene County Historical Society. Recreational opportunities are constrained to protect source water and may involve regulated fishing, birdwatching monitored by groups like the Audubon Society, and seasonal trail hiking under agreements with land trusts such as the Scenic Hudson.

Category:Reservoirs in New York (state) Category:Water supply infrastructure in New York City