Washington Lake Dam dam
Washington Lake Dam
Washington Lake Dam, located in Newburgh, Orange County, New York, is a vital structure managed by the local government for water supply. Built in 1909, this earth dam stands at a height of 30 feet and spans 2,300 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 7,371 acre-feet. The dam holds back the waters of Silver Stream, serving as a critical resource for the surrounding area.
With a significant hazard potential but currently in satisfactory condition, Washington Lake Dam is regularly inspected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 16 feet, and while there are no associated structures, its role in water supply underscores its importance for the community. As a regulated and permitted structure, it plays a crucial role in managing water resources and mitigating risks in the region.
Despite its moderate risk rating, Washington Lake Dam continues to provide essential water supply services while being monitored for any potential issues. Its strategic location and historical significance as a key water management facility make it a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the intersection of infrastructure, environmental regulation, and community resilience.
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 Washington 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 | → |
| Muscoot River At Baldwin Place Ny | 4 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 Washington 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
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
Campgrounds
- Round Pond Military
- Winding Hills Park
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Samuel F. Pryor Iii Shawangunk Gateway Campground
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 Washington 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 Washington Lake Dam
Where does the data for Washington 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 Washington Lake Dam.