Pyrites Intake dam
Pyrites Intake
Pyrites Intake, located in Canton, New York, is a private hydroelectric dam on the Grass River, constructed in 1908. With a dam height of 27 feet and a length of 385 feet, it serves as a crucial water resource in St. Lawrence County. Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the dam has a low hazard potential but is classified as having a high risk assessment level (2).
Despite its age, Pyrites Intake has not undergone recent condition assessments, and its emergency action plan was last revised in 2014. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, with a storage capacity of 27 acre-feet. While it lacks a spillway, the dam's multi-arch concrete structure and rock foundation contribute to its structural integrity. The surrounding area covers 5.3 square miles, with a drainage area of 333 square miles.
Overall, Pyrites Intake plays a vital role in the local water resource management and climate considerations. As a key component of the New York District, the dam's operation and maintenance are overseen by federal agencies to ensure the safety and sustainability of its hydroelectric functions. With the potential for high risk, continued monitoring and assessment are essential to safeguarding the surrounding community and environment from any unforeseen hazards.
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 Pyrites Intake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oswegatchie River Near Heuvelton Ny | 2,030 cfs | → |
| Raquette River At South Colton Ny | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Oswegatchie River Near Oswegatchie Ny | 832 cfs | → |
| W Br St. Regis R Nr Parishville Ny | 362 cfs | → |
| Grass River At Chase Mills Ny | 992 cfs | → |
| West Branch Oswegatchie R Nr Harrisville Ny | 633 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pyrites Intake .
Boat launches
- Grass River
- Colton
- Oswegatchie River
- Maple City Trail Ogdensburg
- Johnstown Street Gouverneur
- Patterson Street Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Higley Flow State Park
- Eel Weir State Park
- Iroquois Municipal Campground
- Jacques Cartier State Park
- Coles Creek State Park
- Cranberry Lake - Dec
More reservoirs
Track Pyrites Intake 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 Pyrites Intake
Where does the data for Pyrites Intake 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 Low 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 Pyrites Intake .