Wilmington Dam dam
Wilmington Dam
The Wilmington Dam, located in Wilmington, New York, serves as a crucial structure on the WEST BRANCH AUSABLE RIVER, offering recreational opportunities and other purposes for the local community. Built-in 1937, this concrete dam stands at a height of 16 feet and spans 255 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and a drainage area of 142 square miles, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, the Wilmington Dam has a spillway width of 228 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 16,130 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a "Significant" hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently "Not Rated", with inspections conducted every 4 years. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and management measures to ensure its safety and functionality for the surrounding area's water resources and climate resilience.
As an essential infrastructure asset in Essex County, New York, the Wilmington Dam stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and the importance of water management in the face of changing climate patterns. With its historical significance and continued role in water resource management, the dam serves as a focal point for local stakeholders and climate enthusiasts alike, highlighting the intersection of infrastructure, water resources, and climate resilience in the region.
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 Wilmington Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E Br Ausable River At Au Sable Forks Ny | 301 cfs | → |
| Ausable River Near Au Sable Forks Ny | 653 cfs | → |
| Bouquet River At Willsboro Ny | 222 cfs | → |
| Little Ausable River Near Valcour Ny | 48 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 55 cfs | → |
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,240 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wilmington Dam.
Boat launches
- Franklin Falls Flow
- Moose Pond
- Saranac Lake (Lower)
- Port Douglas Boat Launch
- Westport Boat Launch
- Little Clear Pond
Campgrounds
- Wilmington Notch - Dec
- Taylor Pond - Dec
- Lost Pond Campsite
- Gulf Brook Campsite #2
- Gulf Brook Campsite #1
- Meadowbrook - Dec
Track Wilmington 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 Wilmington Dam
Where does the data for Wilmington 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 Significant 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 Wilmington Dam.