Chadwick Lake Dam dam
Chadwick Lake Dam
Chadwick Lake Dam in Gardnertown, New York, is a vital earth dam completed in 1926 primarily designed for recreation but also serves as a water supply source. The dam stands at a height of 37 feet and spans a length of 570 feet, creating a storage capacity of 3,840 acre-feet. Situated on Quassaick Creek, the dam's uncontrolled spillway has a width of 175 feet and is capable of handling a maximum discharge of 4,800 cubic feet per second.
Maintained by the local government and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), Chadwick Lake Dam poses a high hazard potential but has been assessed as satisfactory in its condition. Its last inspection in October 2019 revealed a moderate risk level, prompting biennial inspections due to its critical role in the area's water management. Despite its age, the dam continues to uphold its operational integrity, providing essential services for both recreational activities and water supply needs in Orange County.
With a rich history dating back almost a century, Chadwick Lake Dam remains a key infrastructure in the region, ensuring water resource sustainability while offering recreational opportunities for the community. As climate change impacts water availability and quality, the dam's role in managing the Quassaick Creek watershed becomes increasingly significant, highlighting the importance of continued monitoring and maintenance to safeguard its functionality and resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Chadwick Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wallkill River At Gardiner Ny | 286 cfs | → |
| Wappinger Creek Near Wappingers Falls Ny | 120 cfs | → |
| West Branch Croton River At Richardsville Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| W Br Croton River Below Dam Near Kent Cliffs Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Rondout Creek At Rosendale Ny | 191 cfs | → |
| Horse Pound Brook Near Lake Carmel Ny | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chadwick Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- State Highway 208 3081, Wallkill
- Market Street 114, Wappingers Falls
- Spring Street 51, Wappingers Falls
- Old Indian Trail 98, Town Of Marlborough
- Farmer's Turnpike Gardiner
- Libertyville Road Town Of New Paltz
Campgrounds
- Winding Hills Park
- Round Pond Military
- Samuel F. Pryor Iii Shawangunk Gateway Campground
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Margaret Norrie State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
Track Chadwick 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 Chadwick Lake Dam
Where does the data for Chadwick 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 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 Chadwick Lake Dam.