Lake Abanakee Dam dam
Lake Abanakee Dam
Lake Abanakee Dam, located in North River, Hamilton County, New York, is a local government-owned structure with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 1950, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 305 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 5,743 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Indian River and is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, Lake Abanakee Dam is a vital component of the local water resource infrastructure. It serves as a recreational hub, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities on its 360-acre surface area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 134 feet, helps manage peak discharges of up to 6,870 cubic feet per second, contributing to the overall flood risk management in the region. Despite not having a current condition assessment, the dam continues to provide essential water storage and recreational benefits to the community.
Overall, Lake Abanakee Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As a key feature on the Indian River, this earth dam not only supports local recreation but also plays a crucial role in flood risk reduction and water supply management. With state oversight and regular inspections in place, the dam remains a safe and reliable structure, highlighting the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Lake Abanakee Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian River Near Indian Lake Ny | 433 cfs | → |
| Hudson River Near Newcomb Ny | 360 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At North Creek Ny | 2,000 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek | 1 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Inlet Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Sacandaga River Near Hope Ny | 1,330 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Abanakee Dam.
Boat launches
- Dock Road 88, Town Of Long Lake
- State Highway 28 Town Of Arietta
- Forked Lake Boat Launch
- Schroon Lake
- Us 9 Town Of Chester
- Seventh Lake
Track Lake Abanakee 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 Lake Abanakee Dam
Where does the data for Lake Abanakee 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 Lake Abanakee Dam.