Cape Pond Dam dam
Cape Pond Dam
Cape Pond Dam, located in Ellenville, New York, is a privately owned earth dam that was completed in 1914 for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans a length of 612 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 3,605 acre-feet. Situated on the Beer Kill river, the dam has a significant hazard potential but has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in March 2015.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), Cape Pond Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 136 feet and has a drainage area of 19.25 square miles. In the event of an emergency, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment have not been updated recently, highlighting the importance of regular monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks associated with the dam.
Overall, Cape Pond Dam serves as a key recreational resource in Ulster County, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities. With its historical significance and ecological importance, it is essential for stakeholders and authorities to work together to ensure the continued safety and functionality of the dam for both recreational users and the surrounding 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 Cape Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rondout Creek Near Lowes Corners Ny | 48 cfs | → |
| Chestnut Creek At Grahamsville Ny | 26 cfs | → |
| Neversink River At Neversink Ny | 108 cfs | → |
| Neversink River At Bridgeville Ny | 136 cfs | → |
| Neversink River Near Claryville Ny | 106 cfs | → |
| East Br Neversink River Nr Claryville Ny | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cape Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- State Highway 55a Town Of Wawarsing
- Tilson Lake Footpath Town Of Gardiner
- Farmer's Turnpike Gardiner
- Libertyville Road Town Of New Paltz
- State Highway 208 3081, Wallkill
- Town Of Mamakating
Track Cape Pond 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 Cape Pond Dam
Where does the data for Cape Pond 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 Cape Pond Dam.