Soft Maple Terminal dam
Soft Maple Terminal
Soft Maple Terminal is a private hydroelectric facility located in Belfort, New York, along the Beaver River. Built in 1926, this dam stands at a height of 100 feet and has a length of 720 feet, providing a storage capacity of 2678 acre-feet. The facility is owned and operated by a private entity, with inspections conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to ensure compliance with safety regulations.
The dam at Soft Maple Terminal is primarily used for hydroelectric purposes, utilizing a stone core and soil foundation for structural support. With a high hazard potential, the facility is closely monitored for any potential risks, although the current condition assessment is not available. The dam is equipped with two slide (sluice gate) outlet gates, ensuring proper water flow management. Despite not being regulated by the state, the facility falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Soft Maple Terminal is a historical landmark in the region, providing essential hydropower generation while serving as a critical component of the local water resource infrastructure. As climate enthusiasts and water resource stakeholders, understanding the operations and safety measures at facilities like Soft Maple Terminal is crucial for ensuring sustainable and efficient water management practices in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Soft Maple Terminal -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver River At Croghan Ny | 639 cfs | → |
| Independence River At Donnattsburg Ny | 80 cfs | → |
| West Branch Oswegatchie R Nr Harrisville Ny | 271 cfs | → |
| Oswegatchie River Near Oswegatchie Ny | 327 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Boonville Ny | 423 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Inlet Ny | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soft Maple Terminal .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Oswegatchie 41/High Rock
- Oswegatchie 42
- Oswegatchie 43
- Oswegatchie 44
- Whetstone Gulf State Park
- Oswegatchie 45
Track Soft Maple Terminal 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 Soft Maple Terminal
Where does the data for Soft Maple Terminal 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 Soft Maple Terminal .