Burden Lake Dam dam
Burden Lake Dam
Burden Lake Dam, located in West Sand Lake, New York, is a significant earth dam completed in 1916 primarily for recreational purposes. With a height of 24 feet and a length of 365 feet, this dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 7,600 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-WYNANTSKILL river and is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Despite its age, the dam is in poor condition and poses a significant hazard potential, with a very high risk rating of 1. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment taking place in June 2019. The dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 55 feet and serves as a popular recreational spot for the local community. However, due to its condition, there is a pressing need for maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding area and water resources.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Burden Lake Dam stands as a historic structure with both recreational and regulatory significance. Its deteriorating condition and high risk rating highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to prevent potential hazards. As a focal point for the community and a key part of the local landscape, ensuring the safety and stability of Burden Lake Dam is essential for both the environment and the people who enjoy its recreational benefits.
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 Burden Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 13,600 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 104 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 9,390 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burden Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- 123rd Street 6, City Of Troy
- Kinderhook Lake
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Pittsfield State Forest
- Sites 11, 12, 13
- Stoney Ledge Group Site
- Birch Group Site
Track Burden Lake 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 Burden Lake Dam
Where does the data for Burden Lake 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 Burden Lake Dam.