A significant drought in New York City has uncovered a seldom-seen structure within the Central Park Reservoir, known officially as the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir. The dry conditions have dropped water levels two feet below normal, revealing a wall, or weir, which typically remains submerged.
The reservoir, covering 106 acres and constituting about 12 percent of Central Park’s area, once served as a major source of drinking water for the city. While it holds 1 billion gallons of water and reaches depths of 40 feet, it has not been in use for city water supply for some time and now serves primarily as a scenic and recreational feature.
This is the first instance where a drought has made the weir visible, with prior exposures generally due to construction activities. Social media users have noted the appearance of the divider, expressing surprise at the sight of what essentially divides the reservoir into two separate bodies of water.
The revelation comes amid record-breaking dry conditions, with the past month marked as Central Park’s driest on record. According to meteorologist James Tomasini, Central Park has received 1.75 inches of rain so far this month, which is 0.68 inches below average. The seasonal shortfall since September 1 totals 7.78 inches.
These drought conditions have not only revealed historical structures but have also delayed the typical onset of snow, which usually arrives by Halloween or Veterans Day. To date, areas like Hawaii have experienced more snowfall this season than New York City.
The severe drought affecting all of New York City prompted Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rohit Aggarwala to upgrade the citywide drought watch to a drought warning, the first such escalation since 2002. This warning includes various water conservation protocols aimed at mitigating the depletion of the city’s reservoir resources.
The ongoing drought has also contributed to numerous fires across the Northeast, highlighting a critical season for the region in terms of climate and water resource management.
