Chateaugay Chasm dam
Chateaugay Chasm
Chateaugay Chasm, also known as Chasm Power Company Dam, is a private hydroelectric facility located on the Chateaugay River in Brayton Hollow, Franklin, New York. Constructed in 1954, this concrete dam stands at a height of 62.5 feet and has a storage capacity of 73 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and inspected by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, utilizing a multi-arch design with a spillway width of 42 feet. The facility's maximum discharge capacity is 2000 cubic feet per second, serving a drainage area of 118 square miles. Despite its age, the dam has not undergone recent modifications and its condition assessment is currently not available. While the facility meets regulatory guidelines for emergency preparedness, specific details related to emergency action plans and risk management measures are not provided in the available data.
Overall, Chateaugay Chasm represents a significant hydroelectric infrastructure in New York, contributing to the state's renewable energy portfolio and water resource management. Enthusiasts and climate advocates interested in water infrastructure and climate resilience will find this dam's operational details and regulatory oversight of great interest, highlighting the intersection of energy production, environmental conservation, and emergency preparedness in the face of potential hazards.
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 Chateaugay Chasm -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Salmon River At Bombay Ny | 83 cfs | → |
| St. Regis River At Brasher Center Ny | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Little Chazy River Near Chazy Ny | 64 cfs | → |
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 44 cfs | → |
| Little Ausable River Near Valcour Ny | 43 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chateaugay Chasm .
Track Chateaugay Chasm 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 Chateaugay Chasm
Where does the data for Chateaugay Chasm 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 Chateaugay Chasm .