Newton Falls Upper dam
Newton Falls Upper
Newton Falls Upper is a private hydroelectric dam located in Fine, New York, along the Oswegatchie River. Built in 1927 by W. H. Cushman, this concrete dam stands at 21 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 50 feet and a structural height of 45 feet. With a storage capacity of 5,930 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1,732 cubic feet per second, this dam serves multiple purposes including fire protection, stock, small fish pond, hydroelectric, and water supply.
The dam has a spillway width of 58 feet and is equipped with four slide (sluice gate) outlet gates. Despite its high hazard potential, the condition assessment of the dam is currently not available. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees the regulation and inspection of Newton Falls Upper, ensuring its safety and compliance with federal guidelines. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level, the dam's emergency action plan was last revised in January 2021, demonstrating ongoing efforts to mitigate potential risks and ensure public safety in case of emergencies.
Overall, Newton Falls Upper plays a crucial role in the region's water resource management and energy production. Its historical significance and operational efficiency highlight the importance of maintaining and monitoring this vital infrastructure for the benefit of the surrounding community and the environment.
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 Newton Falls Upper -- 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 Piercefield Ny | 2,020 cfs | → |
| Raquette River At South Colton Ny | 1,050 cfs | → |
| W Br St. Regis R Nr Parishville Ny | 362 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Croghan Ny | 893 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newton Falls Upper .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
Track Newton Falls Upper 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 Newton Falls Upper
Where does the data for Newton Falls Upper 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 Newton Falls Upper .