Alder Lake (New York)

Alder Lake is a body of water that is located in the lower Hudson Valley region of New York, specifically in Hardenburgh. The lake was man made by the Coykendall family in the 1900s. It is most often used for recreational uses and family day trips.

History

Alder Lake was established in 1901 by Samuel D. Coykendall. Coykendall was a strong financer of the area. He owned some of the Delaware and Ulster railroad. Along with the lake, the Coykendall Lodge was put up. It was a three story house that was built on a stone foundation. It took up a total of 10,900 square feet and was put up in Hardenburgh, a summer escape for the Coykendall family. After Samuel’s death in 1913, his sons took control of his railroad business and inherited the lodge and lake. The land stayed in the Coykendall family until 1945. After the lodge and lake passed through a series of owners, the state eventually bought the land in 1980. Then in 1988, the lodge was showing deterioration and the D.E.C (Department of Environmental Conservation) proposed a demolition. After not finding a suitable use, a demolition proposal was suggested. It was denied because the public was strongly against this idea. Even though the lodge stayed standing, the deterioration did not stop. The lodge kept getting worse. Then, in December 2008, the lodge was demolished. Now only the stone foundation is left of the Coykendall lodge. Wint Aldrich, New York Deputy Commissioner for Historic Preservation with the state Office of Parks, Recreation and historic Preservation, said "We sort of ran out of ideas. If we were able to catch it and find a use 30, 40 years ago when the state bought it, perhaps something could have been done."

Physical features

According to the D.E.C Alder Lake is tucked away from the general public. With an elevation of 2,211 feet it is well above sea level. The mean depth of Alder Lake is 8.9 feet, making it deep enough to for all levels of swimmers. The lake covers a total of 45 acres, making it quite the rigorous workout. The shore lines are surrounded by flowers and bushes.[1]

Recreational uses

There are many ways to keep occupied at Alder Lake. There is a lot of space for swimmers. For the swimmers that want a workout, they can swim the entire 45 acres. While children can just float around and enjoy the sun. Anglers love to get up and out early head to Alder Lake. There are brook and brown trout in the lake, but there are special fishing regulations because it is a man-made lake. The fishing season is April 1st through September 30th, while the catch limit is only three fish per day. To keep these fish they have to be a minimum of 10 inches long. It is also uses for kayaking and canoeing. People also hike the trail surrounding the lake, and camping is also available for people interested in staying there overnight.

References

  1. ↑ "Disclaimer." Alder Lake. Web. 21 Apr. 2015. http://www.dec.ny.gov/outdoor/58856.html

Coordinates: 42°2′56.3″N 74°40′35.6″W / 42.048972°N 74.676556°W / 42.048972; -74.676556

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