Nat ural and Artificial Forest Reservoir*} 

 of tf)e 5tate of Nev ^Ior^.* 



By GEO. W. RAFTER, Consulting Engineer. 



THE development of water-power in recent years has made everything relating 

 to stream flow, water storage, and forestry not only of interest and im- 

 portance, but even of great commercial value. Indeed, in order to insure a 

 symmetrical development of all the resources of the State, it has become necessary 

 that we understand the laws governing stream flow — or, more broadly, that division of 

 the science of hydrology relating to stream flow. Moreover, the legislature has 

 recently adopted the policy of purchasing large areas of land for the purpose of 

 creating a State Park worthy of the great Commonwealth of New York, and for 

 conserving stream flow. 



The proposition to create the Adirondack Park is easily understood by everybody 

 and has received universal approval throughout the State. The matter of conserving 

 the flow of streams by preserving the forests on their head waters is, however, less 

 well understood; and, indeed, one frequently finds popular statements to the effect 

 that forest growths are without effect in this direction. Such views are usually 

 founded on misinformation, and are held by many people who know nothing of the 

 physical reasons why forests conserve stream flow. 



It is proposed, therefore, to give in this paper, (i) a general veiw of the water 

 resources of this State; (2) an account of the great Indian Lake reservoir built in 

 the Adirondack region in 189S; and (3) some of the more useful physical data on 

 which have been founded the view that, with other conditions remaining the same, a 

 forested area will yield a larger run-off in the issuing streams than will a similar area 

 from which the forest covering has been removed. 



* The rapid development in our State of certain industries, together with the extension of 

 electrical plants, has created a demand for storage reservoirs in our mountain forests, which will supply 

 the necessary power to drive the machinery. The subject has been discussed so widely and is of such 

 importance to our people that we have deemed it advisable to allow a portion of our Report to be used 

 in a discussion of this subject. At the same time it should be understood that the views and opinions 

 expressed in the following paper are those of the author, and that they do not necessarily represent 

 the opinions or policy of this Commission. 

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