Wager Dam dam
Wager Dam
Wager Dam, also known as Wager Pond, is a private-owned structure located in Rensselaer, New York, specifically in the city of Ives Corner. This concrete dam, completed in 1939, serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 58 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 590 acre-feet. Situated on Bonesteel Creek, the dam has a low hazard potential and is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
With a height of 19 feet and a length of 105 feet, Wager Dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 68 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 1060 cubic feet per second. The dam provides vital water resource management for the local area, with a drainage area of 6.5 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 410 acre-feet. While the condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," the risk assessment for Wager Dam is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk, with risk management measures potentially in place to address any identified concerns.
Overall, Wager Dam serves as a key recreational and water resource asset in the region, offering a serene pond environment for visitors to enjoy. With its historical significance dating back to the late 1930s, the dam continues to play a crucial role in managing water flow and storage capacity in the area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the engineering and regulatory aspects of Wager Dam, as well as the ongoing efforts to maintain its safety and functionality for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Wager Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 13,600 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 9,390 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Green River At Williamstown | 88 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wager Dam.
Boat launches
- 123rd Street 6, City Of Troy
- Lock One Road Town Of Halfmoon
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
- Flightlock Road Town Of Waterford
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Stoney Ledge Group Site
- Birch Group Site
- Ash Group Site
- Spruce Group Site
Track Wager 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 Wager Dam
Where does the data for Wager 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 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 Wager Dam.