Croton Watershed

This article is about the component of the New York City water supply system. For the hydrological feature, see Croton River watershed.
Numerous small natural lakes and ponds, as well as large Lake Mahopac, are part of the Croton River's watershed but not part of New York City’s supply system. A map of the actual Croton Watershed is found here.

The Croton Watershed is the New York City water supply system's name for its southernmost watershed and its infrastructure,[a] an organized entity rather than a mere hydrological feature. Spanning large swaths of Putnam and Westchester counties in far southeastern New York State, it represents the drainage, flow, and operating systems of some seven rivers, one dozen reservoirs, and three controlled lakes[1][2] falling within the Croton River watershed.[b]

Over 350 square miles (910 km2) in area, the Watershed holds some 100 billion US gallons (380,000,000 m3) of fresh water.[c] The vast majority of this ends up at the Jerome Park Reservoir in the Bronx via the New Croton Aqueduct, from which it is distributed. Water in excess of New York City's needs spills over the New Croton Dam at the New Croton Reservoir and is carried by the Croton River into the Hudson River at Croton-on-Hudson, New York, about 30 miles north of the Metropolitan area.


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  1. ^ New York State Department of Health Regulations, Part 128-1.6(a)(20) - Definitions: Controlled lake
  2. ^ "Rules and Regulations for the Protection from Contamination, Degradation and Pollution of the New York City Water Supply and its Sources, Final Regulations, Chapter 18 – New York City, Subchapter A, Section 18-16 – Definitions (20) "Controlled lake means a lake from which the City may withdraw water pursuant to rights acquired by the City or as a right of ownership. The controlled lakes are: Kirk Lake, Lake Gleneida and Lake Gilead"" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-24.