Ashokan Reservoir: The Ashokan Reservoir
is New York City’s oldest Catskill water supply. Construction was completed in 1915 after
damming the Esopus Creek and it was essentially built as two separate
impoundments--- an East and West Basin--- separated by a Dividing Weir. The West, or upper basin, serves as a
settling bowl to allow the sometimes turbid inflows from the Esopus and Schoharie
Reservoir to settle.
At full capacity the
Ashokan holds 122.9 billion gallons of water, which based upon volume makes
this the second largest NYC reservoir.
It is twelve miles long and one mile across at its widest point, with a
max depth of 190 feet. Both NY 28 and NY
28A parallel the Ashokan; NY 28 on the front or northern shore, NY 28A on its
back side. The best views along the Ashokan, and the Catskill Mountains, are found
off a NYC Department of Environmental Protection service road now closed to all
but foot traffic.
On May 31st, 1913 Theodore Gordon, who many anglers consider to be the father of dry-fly fishing in America, wrote the following about the Ashokan Reservoir and Esopus Creek: "By the way, the new Shokan dam, in the Catskills, will afford the finest trout fishing in America, if properly treated, and not spoiled by the introduction of other predatory fish. It will be stocked naturally from the Esopus with the rainbow and European trout of good size and quality."
His prediction was spot on. In 1923 T.E. Spencer caught a 19 pound, 14 ounce brown trout in Chimney Hole, which is "technically" the beginning of the Ashokan and end of the Esopus Creek upstream of NYC's reservoir. That brown trout was a New York State record for some thirty years.
On May 31st, 1913 Theodore Gordon, who many anglers consider to be the father of dry-fly fishing in America, wrote the following about the Ashokan Reservoir and Esopus Creek: "By the way, the new Shokan dam, in the Catskills, will afford the finest trout fishing in America, if properly treated, and not spoiled by the introduction of other predatory fish. It will be stocked naturally from the Esopus with the rainbow and European trout of good size and quality."
His prediction was spot on. In 1923 T.E. Spencer caught a 19 pound, 14 ounce brown trout in Chimney Hole, which is "technically" the beginning of the Ashokan and end of the Esopus Creek upstream of NYC's reservoir. That brown trout was a New York State record for some thirty years.
East Basin, Ashokan Reservoir, 11x14 (DtC):
Clouds over the Ashokan, 11x14 (DtC):
Reflections on the West Basin, 11x14:
Catskills/Dividing Weir, Ashokan Reservoir, 12x24:
Chimney Hole fall, 11x14:
No comments:
Post a Comment