MOSQUITO LAKE

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It is perhaps one of the secrets of the ages as to who first, conceived the idea of creating a lake from the Mosquito Creek basin, but it is certain that many people have through the past years anticipated the creation of such a lake. It was not, however, until the comprehensive survey of Alexander Potter was made in 1920, that the practical possibilities of such a lake were known. The Potter survey covered the area from Milton Dam to and including the Mosquito Creek basin and proved the theory that a series of flood control dams would be practical in this area.

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Interest of the public died out following the Potter Survey report until it was revived by activities of business interests and our federal Congress during the second World War. Tentative approval and authorization were given by the Third Session of the Seventy-Fifth Congress in the Flood Con­trol Act (Public Act 761) passed June 28th, 1938. The huge earthen dam of the present Mosquito Lake was begun in July of 1943 as the result of emergency legislation permitting the construction of the lake partly as a flood control measure and partly as a low flow control for the Mahoning River an incidental part of the act included provisions for the building of a water supply outlet for the city of Warren near the dam.

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Mosquito Lake at a maximum elevation of 904 feet, covers an area roughly rectangular in shape, approximately one and one-fourth miles wide and ten and one-half miles long, (extending from State Route 5, near Cortland due north to a point about one mile south of State Route 87 in Greene Town­ship.) In other terms the lake at capacity would cover 14.1 square miles or 9,040 acres of ground and contains 107,000 acre feet or approximately 35 billion gallons of water, (and resulted in the removal of 4,560 acres of timber and brush.)

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From a recreational point of view, Mosquito Lake offers many possibili­ties to the citizens of Northeastern Ohio. It is conveniently located to the industrial cities of the Mahoning Valley and its size permits the use of its facilities to a great many people. Both Federal and State authorities have expressed the intention of seeing that the recreational facilities are as fully developed as possible. The lake is regularly stocked with game fish and is inhabited by many kinds of waterfowl. In the years that lie ahead it isn't too difficult to visualize Mosquito Lake as a Sportsmen's Paradise for hunting, boating and fishing.

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VIRGIL L. SHILLING, Secretary

Cortland Conservation Club

May 27, 1945