Colton dam
Colton
Colton is a privately owned hydroelectric dam situated on the Raquette River in Colton, New York. Completed in 1919, this gravity dam stands at a height of 29 feet and spans 306 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 620 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, utilizing a mix of slide and tainter gates for water control.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Colton Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and safe operation. With a high hazard potential due to its location and size, the dam is considered to have a moderate risk level. While the dam's condition assessment is currently unavailable, emergency action plans are in place to address any potential risks or incidents that may arise.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of infrastructure and environmental preservation may find Colton Dam's historical significance and ongoing management under federal oversight to be a compelling case study. As a key player in the hydroelectric power generation landscape, Colton serves as a reminder of the critical balance between energy production and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate patterns and water resource management challenges.
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 Colton -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raquette River At South Colton Ny | 1,050 cfs | → |
| W Br St. Regis R Nr Parishville Ny | 362 cfs | → |
| Raquette River At Raymondville Ny | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Grass River At Chase Mills Ny | 992 cfs | → |
| Oswegatchie River Near Heuvelton Ny | 2,030 cfs | → |
| St. Regis River At Brasher Center Ny | 1,150 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colton .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Higley Flow State Park
- Coles Creek State Park
- Vingo
- Cranberry Lake - Dec
- Long View
- Iroquois Municipal Campground
More reservoirs
Track Colton 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 Colton
Where does the data for Colton 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 Colton .