Deruyter Dam dam
Deruyter Dam
Deruyter Dam, located in the picturesque hamlet of Gooseville in Onondaga, New York, was completed in 1863 and serves as a vital navigation infrastructure along the Limestone Creek. With a height of 68 feet and a length of 1600 feet, this Earth-type dam provides essential water storage of 16,200 acre-feet, making it a significant resource for the region. Despite its historical significance and critical role in navigation and recreation, the dam's condition assessment in 2018 rated it as poor, with a high hazard potential.
The dam, regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, poses a moderate risk level and is subject to regular inspections every two years. With a maximum discharge capacity of 769 cubic feet per second and a surface area of 560 acres, the Deruyter Dam is a key component in managing water resources in the area. However, the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential highlight the need for ongoing risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of this important structure for both water resource management and climate resilience.
As a focal point for water enthusiasts and climate advocates, the Deruyter Dam stands as a reminder of the delicate balance between water resource management and environmental stewardship. With its rich history, strategic location, and pivotal role in water storage and regulation, the dam serves as a symbol of the challenges and opportunities in safeguarding our natural resources for future generations. Efforts to address the dam's poor condition and high hazard potential underscore the importance of proactive risk management and sustainable infrastructure practices in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource demands.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Deruyter Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chittenango Creek Near Chittenango Ny | 89 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Creek Near Cardiff Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Cr At Dorwin Ave. | 131 cfs | → |
| Otselic River At Cincinnatus Ny | 166 cfs | → |
| Tioughnioga River At Cortland Ny | 479 cfs | → |
| Harbor Brook At Syracuse Ny | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Deruyter Dam.
Boat launches
- Markham Hollow Road 279, Town Of Fabius
- Tully Lake
- Lebanon Reservoir
- Kinne Road 6895, Town Of Dewitt
- Lake Moraine
- Balsam Pond
Campgrounds
- Forest Lake Campground
- Courtland Bible Club Camp
- Rolling Hills Camping Area
- Pine Woods Camping Area
- Green Lakes State Park
- Bowman Lake State Park
Track Deruyter Dam in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Deruyter Dam
Where does the data for Deruyter Dam come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the High hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Deruyter Dam.