Bog Brook Reservoir

Bog Brook Reservoir is a water storage facility in Putnam County, New York, created by damming the Bog Brook stream. The water is held in a basin averaging 10 meters (34 feet) deep and connected via a brick-lined tunnel to the nearby East Branch Reservoir.

The reservoir was completed in 1892 as part of a larger water supply project for New York City. Its construction followed safety concerns that led engineers to build multiple smaller dams higher in the watershed instead of a single large dam.

The name comes from the small Bog Brook stream that feeds the reservoir. The quiet, forested landscape around it reflects how water and nature shape daily life in this rural part of the region.

The reservoir is typically not open to the public to protect water quality, but the surrounding area offers nature observation from nearby roads. The best time to visit is during milder seasons when trails are drier and wildlife is more active.

The reservoir contains two small islands that are the only pieces of land on the water not connected to the shore. These rare natural features formed from the valley shape and are visible from a distance.