Lake Washington is the primary
reservoir for
the city of Newburgh,
New York
New York most commonly refers to:
* New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York
* New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States
New York may also refer to:
Film and television
* '' ...
, United States. It is located just southwest of the city, lying partially within it and the neighboring towns of
Newburgh and
New Windsor. It holds approximately , an amount equivalent to the city's annual consumption.
[Newburgh Water Department History](_blank)
retrieved July 13, 2006
Recreational facilities such as
picnic
A picnic is a meal taken outdoors ( ''al fresco'') as part of an excursion, especially in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event such as preceding ...
grounds are accessible to the public at Masterson Park, near the reservoir's
spillway along
NY 207.
History
Lake Washington was expanded and put into service as a reservoir in 1907, although it had been providing water to its predecessor, Monell's Pond, since 1852. The
dam has been raised many times since then to increase capacity.
In 2016 the city briefly declared a water emergency and started using
Browns Pond, its backup supply, when levels of
perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) near the federal
Environmental Protection Agency
A biophysical environment is a biotic and abiotic surrounding of an organism or population, and consequently includes the factors that have an influence in their survival, development, and evolution. A biophysical environment can vary in scale f ...
guidelines of 200
parts per trillion (ppt) were found in the lake. It is not known yet where the PFOS came from; a pond on the
Stewart Air Guard Base from which Silver Stream, one of Lake Washington's
tributaries, rises, had levels of 5,900 ppt. If Brown's Pond runs out before the contamination can be remediated, the city would have to pay to draw from the
Catskill Aqueduct
The Catskill Aqueduct, part of the New York City water supply system, brings water from the Catskill Mountains to Yonkers where it connects to other parts of the system.
History
Construction commenced in 1907. The aqueduct proper was completed i ...
, part of the
New York City water supply system.
Masterson Park
Resident Frank Masterson had long dreamed of a place where the
disabled,
senior citizens and military
veterans could go to
fish. After his death in 1973, his friends decided to honor his memory by establishing such a park, and it was opened the following year.
It is managed by the city's Recreation Department, and fishing is allowed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Trout and
pickerel, among others, can be taken. Boats can be rented for $6–14.
[Masterson Park](_blank)
at Newburgh Recreation Department site, retrieved July 13, 2006
See also
*
List of reservoirs and dams in New York
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washington (New York), Lake
Reservoirs in New York (state)
Protected areas of Orange County, New York
Newburgh, New York
Tourist attractions in Orange County, New York
Reservoirs in Orange County, New York