Cedar Lake Dam dam
Cedar Lake Dam
Cedar Lake Dam, located in Altmar, New York, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation. Completed in 1985, this earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 200 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 448 acre-feet. The dam impounds Beaverdam Brook, offering a surface area of 30 acres for leisure activities in a scenic natural setting.
Despite its recreational appeal, Cedar Lake Dam poses a significant hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. With a moderate risk rating, the dam requires regular inspections to ensure public safety. The dam's spillway, with a width of 24 feet, is uncontrolled, further emphasizing the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring to mitigate any potential risks associated with the structure.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Cedar Lake Dam to be a captivating subject of study, given its location in Oswego County and its impact on the local ecosystem. By understanding the complexities of managing and maintaining this dam, researchers and enthusiasts can gain insights into the challenges of balancing recreational use with safety and environmental concerns in a changing climate.
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 Cedar Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon River At Pineville Ny | 583 cfs | → |
| Scriba Creek Near Constantia Ny | 263 cfs | → |
| Sandy Creek Near Adams Ny | 334 cfs | → |
| East Branch Fish Creek At Taberg Ny | 499 cfs | → |
| Oneida River Near Euclid Ny | 6,420 cfs | → |
| Oswego River At Lock 7 | 17,600 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Doreen Drive Town Of Sandy Creek
- County Route 40 Town Of Mexico
- South Colwell Pond
- South Sandy Creek
- Oneida Lake
- Lakeview Pond
Campgrounds
- Bears Sleepy Hollow
- Selkirk Shores State Park
- Southwick Beach State Park
- Oneida Shores County Park
- Verona Beach State Park
- Westcott Beach State Park
Track Cedar 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 Cedar Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cedar 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 Cedar Lake Dam.