HYDROLOGY OF NEW YORK 



G99 



be available, equivalent to a daily yield of over G00,000 gallons of 

 water per square mile of land surface, or 254,000,000 gallons per 

 day. The writer, however, considers this allowance larger than 

 is likely to be realized in the region—probably 500,000 gallons 

 per square mile per day would be a safer figure. 



There are two serious objections to a water supply reservoir 

 at this point. The first is the shallowness of the reservoir, 

 which will certainly lead to extensive growths of algae around 

 the edges, and the second is the objectionable bottom. The 

 second objection can be overcome by covering the bottom with 

 gravel which, however, would add very greatly to the expense. 1 



The submerged land is sparsely populated, and with the excep- 

 tion of Florida, Hamburg and Deckertown, there are no villages 

 of any importance near the valley. The sewage of Goshen and 

 Middletown, however, enter streams flowing into the Wallkill 

 above the point where the dam would be located and would have 

 to be taken below the dam by sewers. The sewage of Florida. 

 Hamburg and Deckertown would require purification before dis- 

 charging into streams tributary to the reservoir. A few other 

 small hamlets of from three to a dozen houses could be taken 

 care of by purchase. 



It is proposed to filter the water from this reservoir. The esti- 

 mates provide for the purchasing of 70 square miles of area, which 

 includes a strip around the edge wide enough to afford protection 

 from contamination. About 20 per cent of the land which it is 

 proposed to submerge is either now or has been under cultivation. 

 The balance is covered with water and rank growths of coarse 

 grass, reeds and underbrush. 



The surrounding hills are dotted with dairy farms, and the 

 Lehigh and New England railway and the Pine Island branch of 

 the Erie railroad collect the milk, conveying it to market. These 

 railroads would be relocated along the edges of the reservoir, with 

 crossings, embankments and bridges as required. It would also 

 be necessary to build crossroads over the lake, with bridges and 

 roads along the margins. The expense has been included in the 

 estimates. 



x In reference to growths of algae, see paper On the Fresh Water Algae 

 and their Relation to the Purity of Public Water Supplies. Trans. Am. 

 Soc. C. E., Vol. XXI (1889.). 



