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Lake Roland (Maryland)
Encyclopedia
Lake Roland is a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) reservoir
in Baltimore County, Maryland
. It served as the first municipal water supply for the city of Baltimore, starting in 1861. Although located outside of the city limits, it is owned and managed by the city. The city stopped using the lake as a drinking water
source in 1915.
The lake is contained within Robert E. Lee Park. It is an artificial impoundment created by a dam on the Jones Falls
, and is also fed by two smaller streams, Towson Run and Roland Run. The lake supports wildlife including Canada geese, largemouth bass
, and common carp
.
Since 1986, elevated levels of chlordane
in the flesh of the lake's fish have resulted in the issuance of a fish consumption advisory and the classification of the lake as a water-quality impaired segment.
Some of the wealthiest and most desirable communities in the Baltimore area adjoin the park; indeed, the L'Hirondelle Club
was originally founded by wealthy members of the local community for rowing
on the lake. It is bounded by Ruxton to the north, Woodbrook to the East, and North Roland Park-Poplar Hill to the south. They were built as country houses for the social elite of Baltimore
at the turn of the century due to the attractive setting. They were all designed in the then popular Georgian
, Tudor revival, and Chateau
styles. The park is also bounded in the west by the community of Bare Hills, one of the oldest African-American settlements in the area.
The lake is part of the Lake Roland Historic District
.
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 Baltimore County, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
. It served as the first municipal water supply for the city of Baltimore, starting in 1861. Although located outside of the city limits, it is owned and managed by the city. The city stopped using the lake as a drinking water
Drinking water
Drinking water or potable water is water pure enough to be consumed or used with low risk of immediate or long term harm. In most developed countries, the water supplied to households, commerce and industry is all of drinking water standard, even though only a very small proportion is actually...
source in 1915.
The lake is contained within Robert E. Lee Park. It is an artificial impoundment created by a dam on the Jones Falls
Jones Falls
The Jones Falls is a stream in Maryland. It is impounded to create Lake Roland before running through the city of Baltimore and finally emptying into the Baltimore Inner Harbor....
, and is also fed by two smaller streams, Towson Run and Roland Run. The lake supports wildlife including Canada geese, largemouth bass
Largemouth bass
The largemouth bass is a species of black bass in the sunfish family native to North America . It is also known as widemouth bass, bigmouth, black bass, bucketmouth, Potter's fish, Florida bass, Florida largemouth, green bass, green trout, linesides, Oswego bass, southern largemouth...
, and common carp
Common carp
The Common carp is a widespread freshwater fish of eutrophic waters in lakes and large rivers in Europe and Asia. The wild populations are considered vulnerable to extinction, but the species has also been domesticated and introduced into environments worldwide, and is often considered an invasive...
.
Since 1986, elevated levels of chlordane
Chlordane
Chlordane, or chlordan, is an organochlorine compound that was used as a pesticide. This white solid was sold in the U.S. until 1983 as an insecticide for crops like corn and citrus and on lawns and domestic gardens.-Production and uses:...
in the flesh of the lake's fish have resulted in the issuance of a fish consumption advisory and the classification of the lake as a water-quality impaired segment.
Some of the wealthiest and most desirable communities in the Baltimore area adjoin the park; indeed, the L'Hirondelle Club
L'Hirondelle Club
L’Hirondelle Club is a private social club located in Ruxton, Maryland, and is the oldest such club in the Baltimore region. It opened in 1872 as a boat club for rowing on nearby Lake Roland...
was originally founded by wealthy members of the local community for rowing
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
on the lake. It is bounded by Ruxton to the north, Woodbrook to the East, and North Roland Park-Poplar Hill to the south. They were built as country houses for the social elite of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
at the turn of the century due to the attractive setting. They were all designed in the then popular Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
, Tudor revival, and Chateau
Château
A château is a manor house or residence of the lord of the manor or a country house of nobility or gentry, with or without fortifications, originally—and still most frequently—in French-speaking regions...
styles. The park is also bounded in the west by the community of Bare Hills, one of the oldest African-American settlements in the area.
The lake is part of the Lake Roland Historic District
Lake Roland Historic District
Lake Roland Historic District is a national historic district in Baltimore City and Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It consists of a man-made lake, Lake Roland, portions of the Jones Falls and Roland Run streambeds, and portions of the rights-of-way of former Green Spring Valley Railroad...
.