Lusk Reservoir

Lusk Reservoir
Location	United States Military Academy, West Point, New York
Coordinates
Type	reservoir
Primary outflows	78,000,000 US gal (300,000 m3)
Basin countries	United States
Surface elevation	327 ft (100 m)

Lusk Reservoir is located next to Michie Stadium at the United States Military Academy at West Point. It is open for fishing in the Spring and early Fall, and usually freezes over during the winter months. The volume of the reservoir is required knowledge of all freshmen (plebes) at the Military Academy. It is one aspect of what is known as 'Academy Heritage'. When asked the question: "How many gallons in Lusk Reservoir?" plebes are expected to respond "78 million US gallons (300,000 m³) when the water is flowing over the spillway." Its surface elevation is 327 feet (100 m) above sea level. [1]

The reservoir was constructed by Captain James L. Lusk (USMA 1878) in 1895. In the spring of 2006, the dam underwent its first cleaning in 111 years by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

• Lusk Reservoir Construction 1895.png

  Under construction, 1895

• Lusk Reservoir Frozen.JPG

  The lake frozen over, December 2008

References

• USMA Morale, Welfare and Recreation
• Bugle Notes
• Aerial photo (& topographic map of Lusk Reservoir & Michie Stadium from USGS via Microsoft Research Maps