Owasco Lake Outlet Dam dam
Owasco Lake Outlet Dam
The Owasco Lake Outlet Dam, located in Auburn, New York, is a masonry dam completed in 1972 primarily for recreational purposes. It has a height of 14 feet and a length of 258 feet, with a storage capacity of 64,233 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Owasco Outlet river with a drainage area of 207 square miles and a surface area of 6,400 acres.
The dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and undergoes regular state inspections. With a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, the dam is closely monitored for safety. The Emergency Action Plan for the dam was last revised in July 2019, and the dam is equipped with a controlled spillway with a width of 14 feet to manage potential flood events.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Owasco Lake Outlet Dam will find it to be a crucial structure for water supply and recreation in the region. The dam plays a vital role in managing water levels and ensuring the safety of surrounding communities. Its design, construction, and operational aspects make it a noteworthy site for those interested in the intersection of water resource management and environmental conservation.
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 Owasco Lake Outlet Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Owasco Outlet At Genesee St. | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Seneca River (Erie Canal) Near Port Byron Ny | 7,850 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Creek Near Cardiff Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Ninemile Creek At Lakeland Ny | 103 cfs | → |
| Harbor Brook At Syracuse Ny | 5 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Cr At Dorwin Ave. | 548 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Owasco Lake Outlet Dam.
Boat launches
- Cayuga Lake
- Seneca River
- Lions Parkway Baldwinsville
- Seneca Lake State Park Fayette Town
- Loop The Lake Trail 280, Syracuse
Track Owasco Lake Outlet 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 Owasco Lake Outlet Dam
Where does the data for Owasco Lake Outlet 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 Owasco Lake Outlet Dam.