Lake Carnegie is a reservoir that straddles the borders of the towns of Princeton , West Windsor , Plainsboro and South Brunswick in Mercer and Middlesex counties in central New Jersey . The lake was created by construction of a dam along the Millstone River , though the lower portion of the lake actually follows the valley of its largest tributary, the Stony Brook . The Delaware and Raritan Canal and its associated tow path are situated along the eastern shore of the lake. Noted businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie donated money for the construction of the lake, which was donated to Princeton University . In 1990, the Lake Carnegie Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places .
18-772: The Six Mile Run Reservoir Site , part of the Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park , is located in Franklin Township , Somerset County , New Jersey , United States . It is adjacent to the Delaware and Raritan Canal . It covers 3,037 acres (12.29 km). The reservoir plan was to flood the Six Mile Run watershed. The Six Mile Run is a tributary of the Millstone River that, with its tributaries ( Cross Brook , Middlebush Brook , Nine Mile Run and Steep Hill Brook and several other unnamed ones), drains
36-560: A dandy Carnegie. Carnegie returned to Princeton the following spring to attend the lake's first regatta . Wilson attempted to secure a second donation from Carnegie, who answered, "I have already given you a lake." Wilson's reported reply was, "We needed bread and you gave us cake." Albert Einstein sailed often on Lake Carnegie during his years in Princeton which began in 1933. Due to its initially shallow depth, flooding and siltation (carried by Stony Brook ) became problems for
54-440: A dangerous decrease in the lake's safety levels. Efforts to improve the water quality of Carnegie Lake are ongoing. An aerial view of this lake appears in the opening title sequence of the drama series House M.D. Prior to the construction of the lake, Princeton's varsity crew rowed on the narrow Delaware and Raritan Canal , sharing the busy waterway with commercial shipping. The team had discussed their desire to construct
72-554: A distance of 35 feet from the shoreline. In its 2002 report on water quality, the United States Environmental Protection Agency rated Lake Carnegie as "impaired." This status indicates that the lake cannot support one or more of its designated uses. The sources of this nonpoint source pollution are varied— litter , chemicals ( fertilizers and pesticides ), automotive waste (oil and gas), and goose droppings have all contributed to
90-430: A lake in Princeton, but no plans were ever developed. In 1902, one of the team's former members ( Howard Russell Butler , class of 1876) was asked to paint a portrait of noted philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. While sitting for Butler, Carnegie discussed the many lochs he had built in his native Scotland . Butler relayed the plans he and his teammates had discussed previously to Carnegie, who took an immediate interest in
108-536: A large area in central Franklin Township, Somerset County, New Jersey and western portions of North Brunswick and South Brunswick Townships in Middlesex County, New Jersey. It derives its name, along with other streams ( Mile Run , Three Mile Run, Nine Mile Run , and Ten Mile Run ), from the distance early surveyors estimated it was from the point where the historic King's Highway (now Rt. 27 ) left
126-462: Is a New Jersey state park along the Delaware and Raritan Canal . In 1974, most of the canal system was declared a New Jersey state park. It remains one today, and is used for canoeing, kayaking, and fishing. A graded natural-surface trail along the side of the canal, which was the tow path that mules used to tow barges on the canal before steam powered barges, is now used for hiking, jogging, bicycling, and horseback riding. These trail connect with
144-491: Is used by the university's rowing team, and is home to the US Olympic rowing team . It is, however, available for public use for activities such as ice skating , fishing , and picnicking . Fish species include largemouth bass , carp , pickerel , crappie , channel catfish and occasionally a few rainbow and brown trout that make their way into Carnegie Lake from Stony Brook . Years of pollution have led to
162-627: The Raritan River at New Brunswick to the point the roadway crossed the stream. The estimates were not very accurate but the stream names have remained in use ever since. The land first came under serious consideration as a reservoir site with a 1958 referendum. In 1962, the Freeholders of Somerset County were informed on the intention to use the land for this purpose by the New Jersey Division of Water Power and Supply. It
180-408: The area surrounding Carnegie Lake. Another problem was the rapid deposit of sewage carried by the Millstone River from nearby towns, where expansion of treatment facilities had not kept pace with rapid population growth. The lake has been dredged three times since its opening—first in 1927, in the late 1930s, and most recently in 1971. The 1971 dredging gave the lake a uniform depth of nine feet at
198-513: The land at the site was taken out of cultivation 39 years ago, the process of "old field succession" has now yielded up trees and foliage that are unique among state park lands. In the section between Canal Road and South Middlebush Road, there are postings describing the foliage and the natural process. 40°28′31″N 74°34′00″W / 40.475207°N 74.566569°W / 40.475207; -74.566569 Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park Delaware and Raritan Canal State Park
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#1732798051983216-670: The most scenic and popular sections of the D&;R Canal state park is the segment along Lake Carnegie in Princeton, New Jersey , which features the canal on one side of the path and the lake on the other side. Another attractive section borders the Colonial Park Arboretum and Gardens in East Millstone . When the canal was used for transportation, New Jersey's landscape was mostly rural, and its primary business
234-477: The project. He asked Butler to investigate the potential cost and feasibility of constructing such a lake in Princeton. After working with a New York engineering company, Butler informed Carnegie that the estimated construction costs would be US$ 118,000. Carnegie visited the university campus to view the construction site, and soon after authorized Butler to begin construction. In 1903, a group of Princeton alumni began purchasing farmland that occupied areas of
252-450: The projected basin . They, in turn, sold this land to Carnegie. This was done in order to avoid arousing the suspicions of local residents, and to allow Carnegie to purchase the land for the lowest possible price. By 1905, the needed land was purchased and the work of clearing the area and constructing the bridges and dam began. Carnegie attended the official opening ceremony on December 5, 1906, arriving by train with dozens of friends. He
270-638: The trails in Pennsylvania 's Delaware Canal State Park by way of five bridges that cross the Delaware River . Some 36 miles (58 km) of the main canal, and all 22 miles (35 km) of the feeder canal, still exist. The park is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry . The canal is accessible from many points along its route, with small parking areas providing access at most road crossings. One of
288-518: Was agriculture. Research director of the New Jersey Historical Commission Howard Green is quoted as saying, "it is one of the most beloved parks in the state, a sinewy, snake-like greenway through one of the most heavily populated parts of the world. It has gone from being the machine in the garden, to being the garden in the machine." Lake Carnegie (New Jersey) The lake, which is privately owned,
306-549: Was debated and challenged throughout the 1960s by citizens and politicians. The land was acquired by the state of New Jersey in 1970, through the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection , Division of Water Resources as a future reservoir and recreation area. The reservoir was never built and in 1993 administration of the area was transferred to the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry when alternative water supply sources were found. Because part of
324-409: Was met by a group including university president Woodrow Wilson . Carnegie and Wilson led an academic procession into Alexander Hall, where Carnegie was greeted enthusiastically by attending students (who had been given the day off). At one point, a group of students began to sing: Carnegie, Carnegie He is giving us a lake You can hear the breakers break; Carnegie, Carnegie Andy, Andy, you're
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