By Dan Murphy
Over the summer, we received the following letter from Nicholas. “I was just fishing in the Sprain Reservoir and the water level was significantly lower then it was the last time I fished there which was about 8 weeks ago. The water level is getting lower and Elm Trees are over six feet tall. I’d like to point out that these trees are where 8 to 12 feet of water should be 20 to 25 yards from where the old shore line used to be.
The obvious question is if the gates have been repaired and closed why isnt the lake filling up again ?
City Councilman Anthony Merante, who represents the area around Sprain Lake, has been checking the progress with City of Yonkers Engineer Paul Summerfield, who wrote, “I am pleased to inform you that after significant preparation of the Gate House lower shaft walls, the 5th and final sluice gate was installed on Thursday, August 19. The gate’s control spindle still needs to be installed, however, the sluice gate opening and all other gates remain closed and the reservoir will begin to finally start filling up. The new roof on the Gate House will be installed in the next few weeks.”
Summerfield explained the work earlier this year. :Repairs to the dam controls were started 18 months ago to make the dam system functional again, in order to meet NYS DEC safety requirements to be able to drain the dam within 14-days. This renovation project would restore the banks of the reservoir, the spillway and spillway channel that feeds into Grassy Sprain Brook; remove the existing non-functioning 48” diameter drain valve below the dam embankment and install a new valve; replace 5 cast iron gates housed in the stone gatehouse in the reservoir; and restore the valve house and gatehouse. The dam and associated structures were built in stages between the late 1800s and early 1900s and so the aged gates and the valve needed to be custom fabricated – a lengthy process. The valve itself was lowered 30 feet down into the valve chamber and assembled in place. The dam system also prevents excess water from spilling on to Tuckahoe Rd. The $1.6m project was funded largely by a grant from NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. The reservoir supplied drinking water to much of Yonkers before it was decommissioned in the 1970s. Yonkers now obtains its water from the NYC reservoir system in the Catskills.”
Councilman Merante said, “Its welcomed news that Sprain Lake is filling up. Its natural beauty will be ready to be enjoyed by everyone from golfers at Sprain Lake Golf course, to fishermen or just travelers on the adjacent parkway enjoying a water view.”
