Alcove Reservoir, body of water
Alcove Reservoir is a large water storage facility in Albany County, New York, covering more than 1400 acres with depths reaching 75 feet in some areas. Water flows into this facility through nine tributaries from surrounding highlands and is conveyed via a gravity-fed pipeline built in the early 1930s to a treatment plant that serves Albany and nearby communities.
Alcove Reservoir was constructed between the late 1920s and early 1930s, submerging the small village of Indian Fields which no longer exists today. This infrastructure project was fundamental to the region, providing a reliable water supply that supported the growth of Albany and surrounding communities.
The reservoir is accessible from New York State Route 32 on the western side, with the hamlet of Alcove in the town of Coeymans serving as a reference point. A fishing permit allows access to designated areas, and early morning visits offer the quietest experience for walking or observing the water.
The vintage pipeline system from 1931 conveys water without pumps by relying on natural gravity to travel roughly 20 miles to the treatment plant. This early engineering achievement demonstrates how the city's original water system designers cleverly used the natural landscape to create efficient infrastructure without active energy input.
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