Middle Branch Reservoir
Middle Branch Reservoir is a reservoir in the New York City water supply system located in the Town of Southeast in Putnam County, 35 miles north of the city. Created in 1878 by damming the Middle Branch of the Croton River, it is one of twelve in the Croton Watershed.
Middle Branch covers 400 acres, with an average depth of 31 feet, although some areas in the reservoir's southern extent reach 50 feet. It drains an area of 21 square miles reaching into Dutchess County, the only Croton Watershed reservoir to do so. At full capacity, it holds 4.1 billion gallons.
The Middle Branch Reservoir drains into the Croton Falls Reservoir, which also receives overflow from the West Branch Reservoir, part of the West Branch Croton River watershed. The Croton Falls Reservoir drains back into the Middle Branch, and thence into the Croton River proper, which flows into the Muscoot Reservoir, then the New Croton Reservoir, before entering the New Croton Aqueduct. Water in the Aqueduct flows through The Bronx into the Jerome Park Reservoir.