53:
587:
528:
29:
390:
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288:, impounding an existing, 5-to-6-acre (2 ha) pool of water at the center of a forested wetland known as Tamarack Swamp. The resulting reservoir held approximately 350,000,000 US gallons (1,300,000 m) of water for agricultural purposes and flooded at least 113 acres (46 ha) of the swamp, though estimates of its size range as high as 135 acres (55 ha). Noted for quality of fishing by the
60:
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in
Dutchess County was recorded here in 1964; before that year, only one other nesting site had been observed in the county's history. Today, the lake and swamp are home to hundreds of Canada geese year-round, with many thousands using the area as a stop-over point during migration periods. The first
321:
watershed to the east, and it is unclear precisely where in the lake the two drainage basins diverge. The western outflow is unofficially known as
Tamarack Swamp Creek, and although its sub-watershed is the sixth largest out of sixteen within the Wappinger Creek catchment area, it only contributes
334:) on September 17, compared to 0.3 cu ft/s (0.0085 m/s) amid a dry spell in the previous month. Among the 13 bodies of water larger than 20 acres (8 ha) partially or wholly within the Wappinger Creek watershed, Bontecou Lake is the only one that has not been assigned a
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Bontecou Lake is an important wildlife habitat, and in 1987, the town of
Stanford designated its portion of the lake, along with parts of the adjacent wetlands, as a Critical Environmental Area to protect the large numbers of migratory and breeding
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that seek refuge there. The NYSDEC also monitors and regulates land usage in a 320-acre (130 ha) tract surrounding and including the lake, as directed by the New York State
Freshwater Wetlands Act of 1975.
256:. Published estimates of its area vary between 113 acres (46 ha) and 135 acres (55 ha), placing it among the largest lakes in Dutchess County. The lake and surrounding land were protected as a
368:, which continue to nest on the eastern side of the lake. Though only a handful of the trees remain standing, they provide nesting opportunities for several bird species, including the
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ever documented in the county was also spotted at
Bontecou Lake in May 1977. Dead trees extending above the surface of the water quickly made this a preferred breeding ground for
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cattle herd, water demands increased. Around 1956, responding to severe drought, Bontecou worked with the
Dutchess County Soil and Water Conservation District to construct two
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The lake, oblong in shape and oriented from northwest–southeast, is surrounded by woods and farmlands. It is bounded on the western end by Shuman Road.
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the next year. This was attributed to a harsh winter that killed aquatic plant life in the shallow reservoir, depleting water oxygen levels.
372:, for which the partially submerged trees constitute a relatively rare natural breeding site away from buildings and free of competitors.
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around 2% among major tributaries to the
Wappinger Creek's total flow. During a 1999 survey, freshwater flooding from
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Dutchess County
Department of Planning; Dutchess County Environmental Management Council (October 1985).
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280:(who would later be elected a state senator) in 1926. As the farm became renowned for its
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Bontecou Lake in the autumn of 2016. Low water levels reveal many stumps of the
474:(Report). Dutchess County Cooperative Extension Association. pp. 147, 185
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stretched over
Bontecou Lake at night, as seen from Shuman Road looking east
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In 2022, the property was donated to the
Dutchess Land Conservancy, with a
34:
647:(Report). Village of Wappingers Falls. pp. 1, 60. Archived from
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Bontecou Lake was created on the property of Rally Farms, founded by
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Natural Resource Management Plan for the Wappinger Creek Watershed
505:"365 ponds reflect contribution to county of soil, water district"
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614:(Third ed.). Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club, Inc. p. 48
38:
786:"The Jesse and Gayle Bontecou Wildlife Conservation Preserve"
701:. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
676:. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
383:, creating a 1,250-acre (510 ha) nature preserve.
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New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
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brought Tamarack Swamp Creek discharge to 42.7
444:(1). The Federation of New York State Bird Clubs: 6
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640:Dutchess County Environmental Management Council.
605:Popko, Adrienne; DeOrsey, Stan (January 1, 2016).
696:"Bontecou Lake Critical Environmental Area (CEA)"
674:"Critical Environmental Areas in Dutchess County"
757:. Ralph T. Waterman Bird Club, Inc. p. 59.
472:1985 Dutchess County Natural Resources Inventory
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37:trees that inhabited the wetland before it was
8:
788:. Dutchess Land Conservancy. October 3, 2022
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431:"Eastern bluebird remote natural nest sites"
240:, less than 5 mi (8 km) from the
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168:New York State Critical Environmental Area
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16:Rural reservoir in New York, United States
748:Butler, Barbara A; DeOrsey, Stan (2017).
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726:(Report). Town of Washington. p. 89
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338:(NYSDEC) water quality classification.
294:in 1968, the lake experienced a severe
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751:The Birds of Dutchess County New York
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272:Aerial view of the lake, looking east
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542:"Angus Along the Hudson: Tour Stops"
355:One of the first breeding pairs of
814:Lakes of Dutchess County, New York
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608:Where to bird in Dutchess County
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511:. February 18, 1968. p. 7-D
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191:At least 113 acres (46 ha)
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721:2014 Comprehensive Plan Update
317:watershed to the west and the
252:watershed to the west and the
244:. Bontecou Lake straddles the
1:
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570:. April 6, 1969. p. 2-B
429:Kiviat, Erik (Winter 1982).
309:Bontecou Lake straddles the
544:. National Angus Conference
199:350,000,000 US gallons (1.3
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342:Wildlife and conservation
238:Dutchess County, New York
224:, is a shallow, man-made
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568:The Poughkeepsie Journal
509:The Poughkeepsie Journal
211:738 ft (225 m)
564:"Fish kill hurts ponds"
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377:conservation easement
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264:History and geography
117:41.84667°N 73.64944°W
291:Poughkeepsie Journal
278:Frederic H. Bontecou
242:Village of Millbrook
86:Washington, New York
654:on January 25, 2017
122:41.84667; -73.64944
112: /
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819:Bifurcation lakes
366:great blue herons
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246:drainage divide
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401:galactic plane
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173:First flooded
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160:United States
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66:Bontecou Lake
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22:Bontecou Lake
20:
790:. Retrieved
780:
770:September 4,
768:. Retrieved
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730:September 4,
728:. Retrieved
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705:September 4,
703:. Retrieved
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680:September 4,
678:. Retrieved
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658:September 4,
656:. Retrieved
649:the original
618:September 4,
616:. Retrieved
607:
578:– via
574:September 4,
572:. Retrieved
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548:September 4,
546:. Retrieved
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519:– via
515:September 4,
513:. Retrieved
508:
478:September 4,
476:. Retrieved
448:September 4,
446:. Retrieved
441:
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374:
357:Canada geese
354:
345:
328:cu ft/s
313:between the
308:
300:
296:fish die-off
289:
286:earthen dams
275:
248:between the
221:
217:
216:
196:Water volume
188:Surface area
379:granted to
330:(1.21
165:Designation
120: /
94:Coordinates
808:Categories
792:August 18,
413:References
234:Washington
203:10 L)
126: (
107:73°38′58″W
104:41°50′48″N
405:Milky Way
349:waterfowl
305:Hydrology
260:in 2022.
148:reservoir
438:Kingbird
230:Stanford
82:Stanford
78:Location
35:tamarack
403:of the
39:flooded
761:
146:Rural
755:(PDF)
724:(PDF)
699:(PDF)
652:(PDF)
645:(PDF)
612:(PDF)
434:(PDF)
282:Angus
236:, in
155:Basin
794:2023
772:2018
759:ISBN
732:2018
707:2018
682:2018
660:2018
620:2018
576:2018
550:2018
517:2018
480:2018
450:2018
399:The
232:and
179:1956
142:Type
84:and
332:m/s
177:ca.
810::
740:^
628:^
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507:.
488:^
458:^
442:32
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436:.
421:^
796:.
774:.
734:.
709:.
684:.
662:.
622:.
582:.
552:.
523:.
482:.
452:.
201:×
130:)
41:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
