Schaghticoke dam
Schaghticoke
Schaghticoke, located in Rensselaer, New York, is a private hydroelectric dam on the Hoosic River with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1909. This concrete gravity dam stands at 28 feet tall and stretches 700 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 795 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam is inspected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and meets safety guidelines, ensuring its reliability in the face of climate challenges.
Despite being a non-federal structure, Schaghticoke plays a crucial role in water resource management and energy production in the region. The dam's two slide gates help regulate water flow, with a maximum discharge capacity of 11,000 cubic feet per second. Its uncontrolled spillway, 150-acre surface area, and 635-acre drainage area demonstrate its importance in controlling flooding and supporting ecosystem health. As climate change intensifies, the dam's role in water conservation and renewable energy generation becomes increasingly vital.
The dam's location, design, and functionality make it a key asset for the community, with its emergency action plan regularly updated to ensure preparedness for any unforeseen events. In the hands of private owners, Schaghticoke continues to provide valuable services while adhering to state regulations and inspection requirements. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, recognizing the significance of structures like Schaghticoke in sustainable development and environmental stewardship is essential for building a resilient future.
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 Schaghticoke -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 9,390 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 13,600 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Eagle Bridge Ny | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Walloomsac River Near North Bennington | 202 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Schaghticoke .
Boat launches
- Hudson River Road 951, City Of Mechanicville
- Lock One Road Town Of Halfmoon
- 123rd Street 6, City Of Troy
- Flightlock Road Town Of Waterford
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
- North Schermerhorn Road 22, City Of Cohoes
Campgrounds
- Lake Lauderdale Campground
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Moreau Lake State Park
- Sherman Brook Campsite
- Camping On The Battenkill
Track Schaghticoke 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 Schaghticoke
Where does the data for Schaghticoke 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 Schaghticoke .