Bradley Lake Dam dam
Bradley Lake Dam
Bradley Lake Dam, located in Troy, New York, stands as a vital structure along the Piscawan Kill river. Built in 1859, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes, offering a serene and picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy. With a height of 50 feet and a length of 300 feet, the dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 215 acre-feet, providing a surface area of 7 acres for recreational activities.
Despite its age, Bradley Lake Dam remains in fair condition as of the last assessment in April 2019. The dam is inspected every two years to ensure its safety and integrity. Classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway measuring 70 feet in width. In the event of an emergency, preparations have been made, with risk assessments rating the dam's overall risk as moderate.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Bradley Lake Dam stands as a testament to historical engineering and a valuable resource for the community. Its serene waters and surrounding landscape offer a tranquil escape for visitors seeking to connect with nature and enjoy recreational activities in a safe and well-maintained environment.
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 Bradley Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 11,000 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,020 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 7,230 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 78 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bradley Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- 123rd Street 6, City Of Troy
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
- Flightlock Road Town Of Waterford
- North Schermerhorn Road 22, City Of Cohoes
- Lock One Road Town Of Halfmoon
- Clamsteam Road Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Pittsfield State Forest
- Sites 11, 12, 13
Track Bradley 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 Bradley Lake Dam
Where does the data for Bradley 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 Bradley Lake Dam.