Downsville Dam dam
Downsville Dam
Downsville Dam, also known as Pepacton Reservoir, is located in Downsville, Delaware, New York, along the East Branch Delaware River. Completed in 1954, this earth dam stands at a height of 204 feet and stretches 2400 feet in length. Its primary purpose is water supply, with a maximum storage capacity of 609,740 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 420,280 acre-feet. The dam's surface area covers 5763 acres, serving a drainage area of 372 square miles.
Managed by local government authorities and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Downsville Dam poses a high hazard potential, yet its condition assessment remains satisfactory as of February 2020. The dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway measuring 800 feet in width, capable of handling a maximum discharge of 200,000 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam has undergone regular inspections, with the next scheduled assessment set for 2022. Overall, Downsville Dam stands as a critical water resource infrastructure supporting the region's water supply needs while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance.
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 Downsville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Delaware River At Downsville Ny | 229 cfs | → |
| Tremper Kill Near Andes Ny | 32 cfs | → |
| East Br Delaware River At Harvard Ny | 351 cfs | → |
| Beaver Kill At Cooks Falls Ny | 409 cfs | → |
| West Branch Delaware River At Walton Ny | 429 cfs | → |
| Mill Brook Near Dunraven Ny | 40 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Downsville Dam.
Boat launches
- Nyc 4 Road Town Of Andes
- Bureau Of Water Supply Road 3 Town Of Andes
- Shehawken
- Balls Eddy-Temporarily Closed
- Buckingham
- Delaware River
Track Downsville 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 Downsville Dam
Where does the data for Downsville 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 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 Downsville Dam.