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Ashley Reservoir, a Class II hazard reservoir, is the secondary drinking supply for the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts. The reservoir, consisting of Wright Pond and Ashley Pond, has an impound capacity of more than 795 million gallons of water and a safe yield of 2.1 million gallons of water per day.

Ashley Reservoir
Shores of the Ashley Reservoir at dusk
Location in the United States Show map of Holyoke Ashley Reservoir (Massachusetts) Show map of Massachusetts Ashley Reservoir (the United States) Show map of the United States
Official name	Ashley Reservoir
Country	United States of America
Location	Holyoke, Massachusetts
Purpose	Drinking water supply
Status	Operational
Opening date	1873
Owner(s)	City of Holyoke
Operator(s)	Holyoke Water Works
Reservoir
Creates	Ashley Pond, Wright Pond
Total capacity	795 million gallons
Catchment area	1,261 acres
Surface area	211 acres[1]
Maximum length	640 feet
Maximum water depth	12 feet
Website http://www.holyoke.org/departments/water-works/

The reservoir's construction finished and it became fully operational in 1897.[2] Ashley Reservoir is connected to a smaller reservoir McLean Reservoir, named after Holyoke Water Works Commissioner Hugh McLean, through a water-pumping plant that is operated by the Holyoke Water Works.[3] The reservoir has a surrounding gravel road open to civilian recreational use.[4]

Ecology

The reservoir is home to populations of bears, deer, geese, ducks, beavers, and many other animal species. Maple, oak and red and white pine line the uplands, with red osier, alder, buttonbush and other wetlands shrubs closer to the water. Sunfish and milfoil can be seen underwater.

Watershed public access and recreation

This section contains information of unclear or questionable importance or relevance to the article's subject matter. (May 2020)

In order to protect the water supply from the threats from unrestricted motorized vehicle use, most areas around the reservoir are publicly accessible only by foot, with limited parking available at some of the surrounding gates.

Fishing is not allowed in the reservoir to protect against aquatic invasive species.

Regulations designed to ensure pure water include the prohibiting of Dogs, horseback riding, camping, smoking, sledding and motorcycle riding are among prohibited activities from the reservoir and abutting property. Pedestrians are allowed on the paths and roads around the reservoir but the scenic expanse that contains a drinking water supply limits activities.[5]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ashley Reservoir.

• FEMA 2013 City of Holyoke Flood Map
• Tighe-Carmody Reservoir
• Whiting Street Reservoir

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