Alcove Dam dam
Alcove Dam
Alcove Dam, located in Albany, New York, is a vital water resource structure managed by the local government. Built in 1929, this earth dam stands at 80 feet in height and spans 2180 feet in length, serving primarily as a water supply source for the region. With a storage capacity of 40,242 acre-feet and a drainage area of 32.5 square miles, Alcove Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining water levels and managing flow rates along the Hannacrois Creek.
Despite its age, Alcove Dam remains in satisfactory condition and has a high hazard potential due to its significant storage capacity. Regular inspections are conducted to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 300 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 12,410 cubic feet per second. With its moderate risk assessment rating and satisfactory condition, Alcove Dam continues to be a key asset in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Alcove 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 | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 11,500 cfs | → |
| East Kill Nr Jewett Center Ny | 13 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 3,010 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Alcove Dam.
Boat launches
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- South River Street Coxsackie
- Green Lake
- Kinderhook Lake
- Athens Boat Launch
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- North/South Lake - Dec
- Fox Hollow Camping
- Max V Shaul State Park
- Devils Tombstone - Dec
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- First Bridge To Walloomsac Brook
- Headwaters To First Bridge
Track Alcove 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 Alcove Dam
Where does the data for Alcove 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 Alcove Dam.