South Edwards dam
South Edwards
South Edwards is a captivating hydroelectric dam located in St. Lawrence, New York, along the East Branch Oswegatchie River. Built in 1914, this concrete dam stands at a height of 48 feet and has a unique multi-arch core design. With a storage capacity of 851 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 5104 cubic feet per second, South Edwards plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and generating clean energy for the region.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, South Edwards is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's emergency action plan is up to date and meets guidelines for potential inundation events. The surrounding area, with a drainage area of 277 square miles, relies on South Edwards for water resource management and flood control, highlighting the dam's essential role in climate resilience and environmental stewardship.
As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, the intricate details of South Edwards's design and operational characteristics offer a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of infrastructure, sustainability, and natural resource management. The dam's historical significance, combined with its modern-day role in supporting renewable energy production and water management, underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring vital infrastructure to meet the challenges of a changing climate and growing energy needs.
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 South Edwards -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oswegatchie River Near Oswegatchie Ny | 832 cfs | → |
| West Branch Oswegatchie R Nr Harrisville Ny | 633 cfs | → |
| Raquette River At South Colton Ny | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Oswegatchie River Near Heuvelton Ny | 2,030 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Croghan Ny | 893 cfs | → |
| Raquette River At Piercefield Ny | 2,020 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Edwards .
Boat launches
- Oswegatchie River
- Sylvia Lake
- Lake Bonaparte
- Johnstown Street Gouverneur
- Ranger School Road 68 B, Oswegatchie
Campgrounds
Track South Edwards 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 South Edwards
Where does the data for South Edwards 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 South Edwards .