Vischer Ferry dam
Vischer Ferry
Vischer Ferry, also known as Dam 3, is a state-owned hydroelectric structure located in Vischer Ferry, Saratoga, New York. Completed in 1913, this concrete gravity dam stands at 30 feet tall and spans 1919 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 27,400 acre-feet with a normal storage of 25,000 acre-feet. Situated on the Mohawk River, the dam serves the primary purposes of hydroelectric power generation and navigation, contributing to the area's water resource management.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Vischer Ferry has a spillway width matching its dam length, with uncontrolled spillway type. The dam's hazard potential is rated as high, with a moderate risk assessment score. Despite lacking specific condition assessment data, the structure undergoes regular inspections, with the last one conducted in July 2019. With a total of seven slide (sluice gate) outlet gates, Vischer Ferry plays a crucial role in maintaining water levels and discharge in the region.
Enthusiasts of water resource management and climate advocacy can appreciate the historical significance and functional importance of Vischer Ferry in harnessing hydropower and regulating water flow along the Mohawk River. As a key component in the area's infrastructure, this dam exemplifies the intersection of sustainable energy production and environmental stewardship, offering valuable insights into the complexities of managing water resources in a changing climate landscape.
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 Vischer Ferry -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 3,030 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 9,110 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 3,050 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 37 cfs | → |
| Glowegee Creek At West Milton Ny | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vischer Ferry .
Boat launches
- Lock 7 Boat Launch
- Erie Canal Towpath Town Of Clifton Park
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
- Forts Ferry Road 246, Town Of Colonie
- Clamsteam Road Boat Launch
- North Schermerhorn Road 22, City Of Cohoes
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Rustic Barn Campground
- Moreau Lake State Park
Track Vischer Ferry 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 Vischer Ferry
Where does the data for Vischer Ferry 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 Vischer Ferry .