Basic Creek Dam dam
Basic Creek Dam
Basic Creek Dam, located in South Westerlo, Albany, New York, was completed in 1928 for the primary purpose of water supply. This earth dam stands at 21 feet tall and stretches 865 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 3922 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the Basic Creek, with a drainage area of 16.76 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 6967 cubic feet per second.
Despite its critical role in water supply, Basic Creek Dam has a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment as of January 2018. The dam is classified as having a moderate risk level, with inspections conducted every two years to ensure its integrity. The spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 99 feet, posing a significant challenge in managing potential overflow events. With its location in a high-risk area, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management measures are vital for the surrounding community's safety.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, Basic Creek Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure in the region. With increasing concerns about climate change and water resource management, the dam's maintenance and monitoring are essential to prevent any potential disasters and ensure a reliable water supply for the residents of Albany, New York.
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 Basic Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
| Kinderhook Creek At Rossman Ny | 175 cfs | → |
| Schoharie Creek At Breakabeen Ny | 77 cfs | → |
| Manor Kill At West Conesville Near Gilboa Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| East Kill Nr Jewett Center Ny | 13 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Basic Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- South River Street Coxsackie
- Green Lake
- Athens Boat Launch
- Kinderhook Lake
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- North/South Lake - Dec
- Max V Shaul State Park
- Devils Tombstone - Dec
- Rip Van Winkle Camping
Track Basic Creek 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 Basic Creek Dam
Where does the data for Basic Creek 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 Basic Creek Dam.