The Cornell Dam or The New Croton Dam is located in the state of New York. It has a rich history that dates back more than a hundred years. The original dam was built in the first half of the 19th century and was intended to improve the local water supply. In the 21st century, the dam is a vital source of hydroelectricity and water supply for the region. Read more on new-york.name.
Initial dam
The original Cornell Dam was a stone dam that was built between 1837 and 1842. It consisted of separate blocks of stone and concrete held together with mortar. However, as the population of the city grew, so did the need for drinking water. Therefore, the old dam was repeatedly modernized during the 19th century.
Construction of a new dam and a change of the river course
One of the largest modernizations of the dam occurred at the end of the 19th century. In 1892, large-scale construction of a completely new dam began, which included changing the course of the river and draining it. These works lasted for 12 years.
All this was caused by a significant demographic boom in New York at the end of the 19th century. The existing water supply system of the city relied on local wells and streams. Thus, it did not meet the needs of the population. Therefore, to solve this problem, the city management decided to build a large-scale system, which was supposed to supply water from outside the city and provide residents with high-quality drinking water. These plans included the construction of the novel New Croton Dam.
The construction was a large-scale event that required thousands of workers and the use of the most advanced engineering technologies of the time. The dam was designed with a height of 266 feet and a length of 2188 feet. Such parameters made it one of the largest dams in the world at that time. The dam was also designed to hold up to 34 billion gallons of water. This made it the largest reservoir in the local water supply system.
At the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century, the construction of the dam faced some challenges. Workers had to dig through solid rock to create a foundation for the dam. They also had to build a massive bridge to divert the flow of the Croton River for the further construction of the foundation. Moreover, the weather conditions were difficult. The heat was unbearable in the summer and it was very cold in the winter.
Despite these problems, the construction was completed 12 years later, in 1906. From that moment, the dam began to provide the city of New York with drinking water. The dam was used regularly for several decades of the 20th century and played a crucial role in providing the city with water during droughts and other water shortages.
The dam in the 21st century
In the 21st century, the New Croton Dam, or the old Cornell Dam, is not only an important part of New York’s water supply system but also a popular tourist attraction. Visitors are offered fascinating tours and an introduction to the dam’s history. They are also told why it is so important to the city even in the 21st century. The dam is a popular spot for hiking and fishing. It offers a wonderful view of the surrounding countryside.
The New Croton Dam is a marvel of engineering that has played a crucial role in providing NY with drinking water for more than a hundred years. Despite the difficulties that occurred during its development and establishment, the dam remained in operation in the 21st century and continues to be an important part of the city’s infrastructure.
