This entire area is known as the Allegheny Plateau. A plateau is a large highland area with fairly level land where there was once a shallow inland sea. Over millions of years,the streams and rivers eroded the plateau cutting deep valleys into it creating what is known as a dissected plateau. The valley called Quaker Run is just one of the many such deeply eroded cuts into the plateau and it's size, shape and location made it a likely spot to build the dam to create Quaker Lake as can be seen in this early photo. While viewing the spillway, take a moment to visualize the valley that was once here and how this dam has changed this area's landscape.
Hydrology is the study of the distribution and movement of water.The unusual shaped spillway regulates the lake's level (stage) by allowing the discharge (flow) to vary throughout the seasonal changes in the watershed. This prevents erosion of the area along the streams and the lake's shore.
Hydrological Terms:
Headwater - The upstream portion of a watershed.
Reservoir (pool) level - The elevation of the water in a reservoir at a given time, measured in feet above sea level.
Top of gates - The maximum controlled elevation at a project, typically the top of a spillway gate in a closed position or crest elevation of an uncontrolled outlet structure.
Spillway - A channel or passageway around or over a dam through which water is released, or "spilled," past the dam. Spillways at some dams are controlled with gates. At others, water flows over the top of the spillway automatically when the reservoir level gets to a certain elevation. A spillway is a safety valve for a dam; it can be used to discharge rainfall and runoff from major storms as necessary to maintain the reservoir below a predetermined maximum level.
CFS - Cubic feet per second, typically used as a measure of flow in a stream. A cubic foot is equivalent to about 7.5 gallons. A measure of 1,000 cfs is equal to about 7,500 gallons of water per second
Tailwater - The part of a river downstream from a dam, where the flow and quality of the water are substantially affected by the dam's discharge.
This EarthCache deals with an aspect of Earth Science that teaches geocachers about how the area has been influenced by processes that have shaped the landscape of this site. Hopefully, you will learn some of the terms pertaining to hydrology and be able to relate them to this dam/lake. By looking at the photo of Quaker Run before the dam was built and by comparing it to the view you see at the EarthCache site, you will get an understanding of how the landscape has changed.
The requirement to log this cache is that you email the cache owner (DO NOT POST) the answers to the questions below.
** Failure to do so will result in your log being deleted**
Requirements:
1. What is the Reservoir (pool) level? (answer in ft above sea level)
2. Estimate the Spillway's height. You can use your GPS during good weather, but there are other ways too.
3. Observe the Spillway and explain why or why not the Reservoir level changes at different times of the year.
4. Please post a picture of yourself with the spillway in the background along with your log.
History:
The 65,000 acre Allegany State Park began on May 2, 1921, when an Act of the New York State Legislature approved the purchase of a 7,000 acre tract of land in the Quaker Run Valley. The land was purchased for $50,000.00 (half of the money was raised locally as per the legislature agreement) on June 18, 1921. It was purchased through the Holland Land Company and the park was formally dedicated on July 30, 1921. The park was developed extensively between 1933 and 1942 when the Civilian Conservation Corps(CCC) took on the project of building roads, bridges, camping areas, trails, and picnic areas. The CCC were also responsible for numerous conservation projects from reforestation to stream bank retention and wildlife improvements. The park was developed further with the addition of Quaker Lake, winterized cabins and full service cottages, hiking and snowmobile trails, picnic and recreation areas, bike and horse paths, and better roads enabling people to access the park. Many acres were added to Allegany State Park during the 1960s. Kinzua Dam was built near Warren, PA, and land along the Allegheny River was taken by right of eminent domain. A large part of the Allegany Indian Reservation was involved. Five small towns, including Red House and Quaker Bridge, were evacuated and demolished. Land between the reservation boundary and the park boundary was added to Allegany State Park, boosting the total area to 63,000 acres.
Permit no. ALL254
Many thanks to Grace Christy, Park & Recreation Supervisor retired