Lake Galena (Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Lake Galena is a reservoir
in Peace Valley Park
, Pennsylvania
, in the United States
, created in 1974by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek
.
) flooded the lake in 1972. Before that time, much of the lakebed had been part of the village of Leven, the economy of which was based largely on lead ore (galena
) mining. Mining of galena (in addition to small amounts of zinc, silver, copper and gold) had been mildly successful since the property was purchased in 1861.
A marker was erected in 1998 to commemorate the area's history.
The lake is supplemented by water from the Delaware River Point Pleasant Diversion Project for the purpose of providing cooling water for the PECO
-owned Limerick Nuclear Power Plant
and augmenting public drinking water supplies for approximately 150,000 people. The water supply intake is downstream of the dam at the confluence of Pine Creek and North Branch Neshaminy Creek.
. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the park has a number of trails around the perimeter for walkers, cyclists and riders. Other activities include canoeing
, fishing
, and sailing
. The distance around the lake is approximately 6 miles (9.65 km), and an annual "Friends of the Dove" 10K race is held at the lake every fall.
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in Peace Valley Park
Peace Valley Park
Peace Valley Park is a 1,500 acre park located near Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Bucks County Park System. The park surrounds Lake Galena, a lake created by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek.-Activities:...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, created in 1974by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek
Neshaminy Creek is a stream that runs southeast through Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Neshaminy Creek proper rises south of the borough of Chalfont, where North Branch Neshaminy Creek and West Branch Neshaminy Creek meet. Neshaminy Creek flows lastly between Bristol Township and Bensalem Township...
.
History and Hydrology
Lake Galena in its current form was created when the county (BucksBucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
) flooded the lake in 1972. Before that time, much of the lakebed had been part of the village of Leven, the economy of which was based largely on lead ore (galena
Galena
Galena is the natural mineral form of lead sulfide. It is the most important lead ore mineral.Galena is one of the most abundant and widely distributed sulfide minerals. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system often showing octahedral forms...
) mining. Mining of galena (in addition to small amounts of zinc, silver, copper and gold) had been mildly successful since the property was purchased in 1861.
A marker was erected in 1998 to commemorate the area's history.
The lake is supplemented by water from the Delaware River Point Pleasant Diversion Project for the purpose of providing cooling water for the PECO
Peco
Peco is a UK-based manufacturer of model railway accessories, especially trackwork, based at Pecorama, Beer in South Devon.Peco is the collective name for the Pritchard Patent Product Company Ltd, Peco Publications and Publicity Ltd, and Pecorama...
-owned Limerick Nuclear Power Plant
Limerick Nuclear Power Plant
The Limerick Generating Station in Pennsylvania is located next to the Schuylkill River in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, northwest of Philadelphia. The facility has two General Electric boiling water reactor units, cooled by natural draft cooling towers...
and augmenting public drinking water supplies for approximately 150,000 people. The water supply intake is downstream of the dam at the confluence of Pine Creek and North Branch Neshaminy Creek.
Peace Valley Park
Lake Galena is surrounded on all sides by Peace Valley ParkPeace Valley Park
Peace Valley Park is a 1,500 acre park located near Doylestown, Pennsylvania. It is part of the Bucks County Park System. The park surrounds Lake Galena, a lake created by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek.-Activities:...
. An area of outstanding natural beauty, the park has a number of trails around the perimeter for walkers, cyclists and riders. Other activities include canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, and sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
. The distance around the lake is approximately 6 miles (9.65 km), and an annual "Friends of the Dove" 10K race is held at the lake every fall.