Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam dam
Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam
Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam, located in Chautauqua, New York, was completed in 1906 and serves as a critical water supply source for the local community. With a dam height of 19 feet and a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, this concrete structure on Silver Creek plays a vital role in managing water resources in the area. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 59 feet wide, is designed to handle a maximum discharge of 235 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated," highlighting the need for ongoing inspection and maintenance. The dam's risk assessment is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk, prompting the need for continued risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure for both water supply and climate resilience purposes.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam to be a compelling example of infrastructure that plays a crucial role in water management and environmental protection. As a key component of the local water supply system, this dam underscores the importance of effective regulation, inspection, and maintenance to address potential risks and ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources in the region. With its historical significance and ongoing relevance in water management, Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam stands as a reminder of the essential role that infrastructure plays in supporting communities and protecting the 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 Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cattaraugus Creek At Gowanda Ny | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Chadakoin River At Falconer Ny | 319 cfs | → |
| Cazenovia Creek At Ebenezer Ny | 1,060 cfs | → |
| Buffalo Creek At Gardenville Ny | 825 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Salamanca Ny | 2,970 cfs | → |
| Cayuga Creek Nr Lancaster Ny | 622 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Aldrich Street Gowanda / Jogowöde'
- Genesee Road North Collins
- Middle Cassadaga Lake
- New Albion Lake
- Bear Lake
- Fuhrmann Boulevard 1510, Buffalo
Track Smiths Mills Reservoir 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 Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Smiths Mills Reservoir 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 Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam.