OF NEW YORK

STUDIES OF

Water Storage for Flood Prevention and Power Development

IN NEW YORK STATE

UNDER PUBLIC OWNERSHIP AND CONTROL

PROGRESS REPORT UNDER CHAPTER 569, LAWS OF 1907 TRANSMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE FEBRUARY 1, 1908

REPRINTED FROM THE THIRD ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STATE WATER SUPPLY COMMISSION, WITH REVISIONS SHOWING RESULTS OF ENGINEERING STUDIES TO MARCH 1, 1908

Compliments of

State Water Supply Commission

ALBANY

J. B. LYON COMPANY, STATE PRINTERS

1908

Two different methods or stages of use

Benefits of Sacandaga power project to existing water powers on

the Hudson

Advantages given by State ownership and control..

48

49

50

The immediate project of private development..

52

Review of previous investigations..

The McElroy report of 1867..

The Hudson's irregular flow and the Adirondack storage possibilities. 59

Adirondack storage report of 1874..

U. S. census report on New York water powers.

Upper Hudson storage report of 1895...

Incompleteness of data secured in 1895-6.

Hudson storage report of 1896....

Investigations by Water Storage Commission of 1902.

Forest preserve restrictions

Effect of lumbering upon stream flow..

Restrictions on reservoir building..

[3]

Rules by which storage reservoirs may be made attractive.

87

Comparison with the Croton records of rainfall and runoff..

117

Yield of Sacandaga drainage area compared with Hudson river at

Mechanicville..

118

Natural yield without storage in time of drought.

121

Daily gagings of Hudson river tributaries made for New York State

Water Supply Commission by the U. S. Geological Survey under

Chapter 569 of the Laws of 1907....

123

Confirmation of estimates of Hudson flow by rainfall studies...

137

Report by Prof. Francis J. Seery upon the several rain gage stations

in the Adirondack plateau...

137

Additional rain gage stations in Adirondacks..

137

Rain fall compilations - cycles of wet and dry years.

142

Comparison of rain gages...........

146

Larger runoff on the Sacandaga drainage area.

146

Yield of water power from the estimated flow from Sacandaga reservoir. 147

Increase of power at present Hudson river plants due to the discharge of

storage from the Sacandaga reservoir

147

Increase of Hudson river power from Sacandaga storage—(first stage).. 153

Increase of Hudson river power from Sacandaga storage —(second stage). 154

Use of reservoir for flood control - Advantage of State supervision.. 178

Stream flow measurements on upper Genesee...

Accuracy of Mount Morris gagings.

Storage requirements at Portage.

Proposed Portage reservoir

Study of more ancient rainfall records..

Quantity of water to be reserved for scenic effect in Glen Iris.

Increased power at present Genesee river plants (first stage)

Increased power at present Genesee river plants (second stage)

Flood control by Genesee storage reservoir.....

Data from report of Rochester Flood Commission of 1905.

Conclusions regarding Genesee river floods....

Higher dam and cheaper reservoir now proposed..

Plan of Portage works proposed. . . . .

Yield of drainage area above Portage with storage.

Estimate of power..

Construction proposed for Portage dam..

Scenic interest along new railroad location..

Character of sub-strata at thin rim of Portage basin.

Report on Portage rim samples by W. O. Crosby.

Report on Portage rim samples by W. E. Spear..

Report on Portage rim samples by James L. Davis.

180

181

182

183

. 184

188

193

194

195

195

196

197

198

199

200

201

202

202

205

207

208

209

212

Approximate estimate of cost of Portage reservoir..

Approximate estimate of cost of power plant....

Estimated cost per horse power of the Portage development.... 215

Conclusion

216

APPENDIX B.

Report upon the probable storage capacity and water power that could

be developed by a series of small dams and reservoirs upon the

various tributaries and head waters of the Genesee river above

Portage, together with an estimate of cost, by George G. Shedd,

C. E. .

219

Extracts from letters of Mr. Hollis French to George G. Shedd, rela-

tive to direct current transmission..

228

APPENDIX C.

Report upon value of buildings included within the limits of the proposed

Genesee river storage reservoir in towns of Genesee Falls, Portage,

Granger, Hume, Caneadea; by George G. Shedd, C. E..

231