Sand Lake Dam dam
Sand Lake Dam
Sand Lake Dam, located in Woodhull, New York, is a state-owned structure built in 1901 primarily for navigation purposes on the Grindstone Creek. This masonry dam stands at a height of 30 feet and has a length of 317 feet, with a storage capacity of 3,770 acre-feet. The dam's spillway is controlled and has a width of 65 feet, allowing for a maximum discharge of 400 cubic feet per second.
Despite its age, Sand Lake Dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its condition as of the last inspection in September 1971. The risk assessment for the dam indicates a very high risk level, emphasizing the need for regular monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued safety and functionality. With the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation overseeing regulation, inspection, and enforcement, Sand Lake Dam remains a crucial infrastructure for both navigation and recreation in the area, highlighting the importance of water resource management in the face of climate change 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 Sand Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Canada Creek Near Wilmurt Ny | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Boonville Ny | 752 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Inlet Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek | 1 cfs | → |
| Independence River At Donnattsburg Ny | 369 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River Below Delta Dam Near Rome Ny | 313 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sand Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Seventh Lake
- Twichell Lake
- Stillwater Reservoir
- State Highway 28 Town Of Arietta
- Soft Maple Reservoir
- Black River
Campgrounds
- Nicks Lake - Dec
- Limekiln Lake - Dec
- South Lake Campsite
- Nys Designated Tent Site
- Eighth Lake - Dec
- Pixley Falls State Park
Track Sand 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 Sand Lake Dam
Where does the data for Sand 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 Low 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 Sand Lake Dam.