The nearly 100-acre lake in Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown has been drained.
The lake’s dam and concrete bridge collapsed, releasing millions of gallons of water into the Nissequogue River after a storm swept through the area Monday morning. Floodwaters inundated roads, including the Jericho Turnpike, and affected homes, schools and businesses. It also caused delays to trains on the LIRR’s Port Jefferson Branch. Due to the severity of the storm, the county declared a state of emergency.
The “storm of the millennium” devastated northwestern Suffolk County with rainfall totaling more than 25 centimeters in some areas, and as much as 205 centimeters in Smithtown, according to the National Weather Service.
“We knew there was severe weather in Connecticut, but the storm moved completely south and hit the north coast of Suffolk County,” said Ed Romaine, Suffolk County executive.
Blydenburgh Lake, also called Stump Pond, was dammed in 1798 to power a grist mill, according to Suffolk County Parks. More recently, the body of water has been used for recreational fishing, kayaking and canoeing, as well as a 5.7-mile loop trail for hikers.
A Blydenburgh Park official confirmed Tuesday morning that the park was still open, although parts of the walking trail were closed and fishing or boating were not currently permitted. Camping, picnicking and dog walking areas are still available to the public.
Nearby Mill Pond, also known as Stony Brook Duck Pond in the Avalon Nature Preserve, was also severely damaged by the storm and its dam also collapsed.
Update: Stony Brook Grist Mill, built in 1699, is safe for now
“This is a major disaster that was not expected,” said Romaine, who surveyed the damage on Monday. Below you can see the damage and Romaine’s comments.
Above: Dried up Stump Pond in Blydenburgh Park in Smithtown. Photo credit: Michael Ehrlich)
