New Jersey

New Jersey's Largest Reservoir Hits Record Low Capacity

The largest reservoir in New Jersey has fallen to a record low level, state officials said.

As of Thursday, Round Valley Reservoir in Clinton Township was at 66.5 percent of its 55 billion-gallon capacity, NJ.com reported.

Round Valley is 2,350 acres in size and reaches depths of up to 180 feet. It was formed in 1960.

According to the New Jersey Water Supply Authority, the previous record low was 67.2 percent capacity set on Nov. 28, 1982. Then the state was in the midst of a drought emergency.

The state Department of Environmental Protection issued a warning for drought-like conditions for 14 counties in late October.

DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said the agency could place mandatory restrictions on water use if conditions worsen.

Fishermen in the area have reported difficulty in launching boats at the reservoir. But Robert Ivan, an avid fisherman who oversees the website RoundValleyFishing.com, said actual fishing has been "phenomenal" at the reservoir this fall.

The state DEP's Division of Parks and Forestry put down gravel to help outdoorsmen launch their boats.

Spruce Run, New Jersey's third-largest reservoir, is also quickly approaching its lowest level. The 1,290-acre reservoir, opened in 1964 and managed by the same authority as Round Valley, is at 33 percent capacity.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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