Merriewold Lake Dam dam
Merriewold Lake Dam
Merriewold Lake Dam, located in Orange County, New York, is a significant earth dam completed in 1953 for the primary purpose of recreation. With a height of 50 feet and a length of 380 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 96 acre-feet and has a normal storage level of 78 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Satterly Creek and is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
The dam has a spillway width of 49 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1470 cubic feet per second. It is classified as having a significant hazard potential and is subject to regular inspections, with the most recent one conducted in December 2020. While the condition assessment of the dam is currently not rated, it is considered to have a moderate risk level according to the risk assessment.
Despite its age, Merriewold Lake Dam remains a key structure for water resource management in the area, offering recreational opportunities and important flood control measures. Its location in a picturesque setting makes it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and wildlife enthusiasts alike. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the importance of maintaining and monitoring dams like Merriewold Lake Dam only grows in significance for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water systems.
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 Merriewold Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 60 cfs | → |
| Mahwah River Near Suffern Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 10 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 40 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 67 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Merriewold Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Old East Main Street Town Of Wallkill
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
- Battlefield Road Town Of Stony Point
- Broadway Buchanan
- Hudson Avenue Peekskill
Campgrounds
- Round Pond Military
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Winding Hills Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Blue Mountain Reservation
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
Track Merriewold 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 Merriewold Lake Dam
Where does the data for Merriewold 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 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 Merriewold Lake Dam.