Kents Falls dam
Kents Falls
Kents Falls, located on the Saranac River in Morrisonville, New York, is a concrete hydroelectric dam completed in 1991 with a primary purpose of generating hydropower. The dam stands at a height of 59 feet and has a length of 257 feet, providing a storage capacity of 265 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 10,000 cubic feet per second. The dam's spillway width is 172 feet, and it is equipped with four slide gates for water release.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Kents Falls has a high hazard potential due to its location and structure. While the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, regular inspections are conducted to ensure its safety and functionality. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating a need for ongoing risk management measures.
Overall, Kents Falls is a significant hydroelectric resource in the region, contributing to the renewable energy sector and water resource management. Its operation and maintenance are closely monitored by federal agencies to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment.
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 Kents Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 46 cfs | → |
| Little Ausable River Near Valcour Ny | 48 cfs | → |
| Little Chazy River Near Chazy Ny | 68 cfs | → |
| Ausable River Near Au Sable Forks Ny | 695 cfs | → |
| E Br Ausable River At Au Sable Forks Ny | 271 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kents Falls .
⚓ Boat launches
- Green Street 32, Plattsburgh
- Green Street Plattsburgh
- Peru Boat Launch
- Chazy Lake
- Fish Hatchery Road Grand Isle
- West Shore Road Grand Isle
⛺ Campgrounds
- Macomb Reservation State Park
- Cumberland Bay State Park
- Primitive Campsite 13
- Primitive Campsite 14
- Primitive Campsite 16
- Primitive Campsite 15
Track Kents Falls 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 Kents Falls
Where does the data for Kents Falls 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 Kents Falls .