Vly Creek Reservoir Dam dam
Vly Creek Reservoir Dam
Vly Creek Reservoir Dam, located in Clarksville, New York, serves as a critical water supply structure in Albany County. Completed in 1957, this earth dam stands at 25 feet high and stretches 338 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 5227 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 240.5 acres and is fed by the TR-ONESQUETHAW CREEK, providing an essential source of water for the surrounding community.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, the dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 100 feet, ensuring proper discharge during heavy rainfall events. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, although its condition assessment in 2017 deemed it satisfactory. Regular inspections are conducted every two years to monitor its structural integrity, with the last inspection taking place in September 2020.
Despite its high risk assessment, Vly Creek Reservoir Dam continues to play a crucial role in water resource management in the region, highlighting the importance of proactive maintenance and emergency preparedness measures. With its strategic location and vital contribution to the water supply infrastructure, this dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to safeguard against potential climate-related challenges and ensure the resilience of the local water system.
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 Vly Creek Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 11,500 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 3,010 cfs | → |
| Kinderhook Creek At Rossman Ny | 175 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vly Creek Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
- Erie Canal Towpath Town Of Clifton Park
- Lock 7 Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Max V Shaul State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- North/South Lake - Dec
- Cherry Plain State Park
Track Vly Creek Reservoir 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 Vly Creek Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Vly Creek Reservoir 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 Vly Creek Reservoir Dam.