Quake reported near Schoharie County dam
USGS This map provided by the U.S. Geological Survey shows the epicenter of the earthquake reported near Gilboa, and areas where residents reported feeling the quake.
Updated 9 hours ago
A minor earthquake was reported in Schoharie County late Saturday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The USGS website reports the magnitude-3 earthquake struck near the Upper Blenheim-Gilboa Reservoir, east of Mine Kill State Park, in North Blenheim, at about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The reservoir, which sits 2,000 feet up at the top of Brown Mountain, holds 5 billion gallons of water, which are fed into the New York Power Authority’s Pumped Storage Power Project to generate hydroelectric power. A second reservoir sits at the base of the mountain. The two bodies of water are open to seasonal boating and fishing at NYPA’s discretion.
The 17.6 billion-gallon Gilboa Dam is less than five miles away from the Power Authority. A hydrograph of the Schoharie Creek at the Gilboa Dam on Sunday night showed that water levels were below flood stage, and falling.
The quake, which originated more than 8 miles under the surface, was felt by some in the Gilboa and Stamford areas, and as far away as Schoharie and Cobleskill (about 30 miles from the quake site). The USGS website indicates only a handful of reports from anyone who felt the quake.
“I felt it … thought it was the train,” Ketina Delgado wrote on The Daily Star’s Facebook page. “Thought it felt like an earthquake cause my bed was shaking too hard and I even heard some car alarms go off couple of times.”
According to USGS, a magnitude-3 earthquake is considered minor, and is unlikely to cause damage to buildings.
No one from NYPA was available Sunday to comment on the status of the dam.
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