Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam dam
Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam
The Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam in Oneida, New York, stands as a crucial structure designed by the USDA NRCS to mitigate flood risks in the area. Completed in 1978, this earth-type dam boasts a height of 53 feet and a length of 600 feet, providing a storage capacity of 176 acre-feet. Situated along the Higinbotham Brook, it serves as a vital asset in flood risk reduction efforts within the Madison County region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, the dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and meet state permitting requirements. Despite its high hazard potential, recent assessments have deemed its condition satisfactory, with a moderate risk rating. The dam's emergency action plan is kept up to date, reflecting a proactive approach to risk management and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities in the event of a potential breach.
With a history of effective flood prevention and a commitment to ongoing maintenance and risk assessment, the Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management in the face of climate variability. Its role in protecting the local area from inundation highlights the critical need for sustainable infrastructure to address the challenges posed by a changing climate.
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 Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Oneida Creek At Oneida Ny | 33 cfs | → |
| Chittenango Creek Near Chittenango Ny | 69 cfs | → |
| East Branch Fish Creek At Taberg Ny | 499 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River Below Delta Dam Near Rome Ny | 226 cfs | → |
| Scriba Creek Near Constantia Ny | 29 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Cr At Spencer St. | 147 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam.
Boat launches
- Oneida Lake
- Lake Moraine
- Delta Lake State Park Town Of Western
- Lebanon Reservoir
- Kinne Road 6895, Town Of Dewitt
- Chittning Pond
Campgrounds
- Verona Beach State Park
- Pine Woods Camping Area
- Rolling Hills Camping Area
- Green Lakes State Park
- Delta Lake State Park
- Oneida Shores County Park
Track Higinbotham Brook Watershed 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 Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam
Where does the data for Higinbotham Brook Watershed 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 Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam.