Cuba Lake
| Cuba Lake | |
|---|---|
 Cuba Lake
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| Location | Allegany and Cattaraugus counties, New York |
| Coordinates | 42°14′57″N 78°17′32″W / 42.2492°N 78.2922°WCoordinates: 42°14′57″N 78°17′32″W / 42.2492°N 78.2922°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Rawson Creek |
| Primary outflows | Cuba Lake Outlet |
| Catchment area | 16,316 acres (66.03 km2) |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 454 acres (1.84 km2) |
| Average depth | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Max. depth | 49 ft (14.9 m) |
| Shore length1 | 6 mi (9.7 km) |
| Surface elevation | 1,542 ft (470 m) |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Cuba Lake is a 454-acre (1.84 km2) reservoir in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties, New York.
Originally known as the Oil Creek Reservoir, Cuba Lake was created in 1858 to help maintain water levels on the Genesee Valley Canal. Cuba Lake and its surrounding land is owned by New York State, and was managed as the Cuba Reservation between 1912 and 2011. Today, cottage and home sites on the lake are officially leased from the state as part of the Cuba Lake District.
Cuba Lake is a regionally popular fishing and boating destination, with several sportfish and panfish species available.
Cuba Lake is a reservoir located north of the village of Cuba, primarily within the town of Cuba in Allegany County, with a small portion extending into Cattaraugus County. The 454-acre (1.84 km2) lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet (14.9 m) and an average depth of 17 feet (5.2 m); during the winter, the lake is drawn down by six to eight feet (1.8 to 2.4 m). The lake is fed by Rawson Creek at its northwest end, and drains south through the Cuba Lake Outlet, a tributary to Oil Creek. The lake's watershed covers 16,316 acres (25.49 sq mi; 66.03 km2).
Originally known as the Oil Creek Reservoir, Cuba Lake was constructed between 1852 and 1858 to serve as a feeder reservoir for the Genesee Valley Canal. The reservoir was impounded by a 60-foot-tall (18 m) dam built at a cost of $150,000. When first completed, the reservoir covered 480 acres (1.9 km2); after being deepened in 1864 and 1872, the reservoir reached a high-water area of 708 acres (2.87 km2). At the time, it was claimed as the largest artificial lake in New York State.
In 1878, the Genesee Valley Canal Railroad was completed, replacing the Genesee Valley Canal. The reservoir and a portion of the former canal were retained to help maintain water levels on the Erie Canal. Later, after New York State announced their intention to drain the reservoir, lobbying by former canal superintendent Charles Wyvelle led to the reservoir being saved. The reservoir remained at its high-water mark until 1889, when the water level was lowered by 7.5 feet (2.3 m) to relieve fears raised by the Johnstown Flood that had occurred that year.
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Wikipedia