Lake Galena (Pennsylvania)

Lake Galena is a reservoir in Peace Valley Park, Pennsylvania, in the United States, created in 1974[2] by the damming of the north branch of the Neshaminy Creek.

Lake Galena
View of Lake Galena from dam
Lake Galena Lake Galena
Location	New Britain Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, US
Coordinates	40.3250986°N 75.1900269°W[1]
Type	Reservoir
Primary inflows	Neshaminy Creek
Primary outflows	Neshaminy Creek
Catchment area	9,922 acres (40.2 km^2)
Basin countries	United States
Max. length	1.78 mi (2.86 km)
Max. width	0.44 mi (0.71 km)
Surface area	365 acres (1.5 km^2)
Average depth	15 ft (4.6 m)
Max. depth	42 ft (13 m)
Water volume	55,128 acre⋅ft (67.999 hm^3)
Surface elevation	321 ft (97.8 m)

History and Hydrology

Lake Galena in its current form was created when the county (Bucks) flooded the lake in 1972. Before that time, much of the lakebed had been part of the village of New Galena, the economy of which was based largely on farming.[3] Mining of galena (in addition to small amounts of zinc, silver, copper and gold[3]) had been mildly successful since the property was purchased in 1861.

A marker was erected in 1998 to commemorate the area's history.[3]

The lake is supplemented by water from the Delaware River Point Pleasant Diversion Project for the purpose of augmenting public drinking water supplies for approximately 150,000 people in Bucks and Montgomery counties.[2] Lake Galena supplies water to the North Penn Water Authority and the North Wales Water Authority.[4] The water supply intake is downstream of the dam at the confluence of Pine Run and North Branch Neshaminy Creek.[2]

Peace Valley Park

Lake Galena

Lake Galena is surrounded on all sides by Peace Valley Park. 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 8 mi (13 km), and an annual "Friends of the Dove" 10K race is held at the lake every summer in August.

Pop Culture

In 2011, Doylestown band Balance and Composure released a song titled "Galena" on their album "Separation", which is in honor of a friend who died the year prior in a car accident.

References

1. "Peace Valley Reservoir". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey. Retrieved Jan 16, 2021.
2. "Final Report, Lake Galena & North Branch Neshaminy Creek Watershed Implementation Plan" (PDF). September 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 19 July 2011.
3. Todd Bishop (October 1998). "Township Strikes Lode Of Lore Lake Galena In New Britain Covers Lost Mines And A Village. Tomorrow, A Historic Marker Goes Up". Retrieved 19 July 2011.
4. "Forest Park Water "Clearly the Finest"" (PDF). North Penn Water Authority and North Wales Water Authority. Retrieved January 28, 2015.

External links