Onondaga Dam dam
Onondaga Dam
Onondaga Dam, located in Onondaga Nation, New York, was completed in 1949 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Onondaga Creek. As a state-regulated dam with a height of 67 feet and a length of 2050 feet, it provides storage capacity of 48,400 acre-feet and has a maximum discharge capacity of 82,350 cubic feet per second. The dam has a surface area of 2500 acres and a drainage area of 68.1 square miles, making it a crucial structure for managing water resources in the region.
Despite its high hazard potential, the dam is in satisfactory condition, according to a 2017 assessment. The dam's emergency action plan is up to date, with regular inspections conducted every two years to ensure its integrity and safety. The spillway type for the dam is uncontrolled, with a width of 200 feet, further enhancing its ability to manage floodwaters effectively. With moderate risk assessment and enforcement by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Onondaga Dam plays a vital role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding events and highlights the importance of proper water resource management in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Onondaga Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Onondaga Creek Near Cardiff Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Cr At Dorwin Ave. | 548 cfs | → |
| Harbor Brook At Syracuse Ny | 5 cfs | → |
| Onondaga Cr At Spencer St. | 619 cfs | → |
| Ley Creek At Park Street | 16 cfs | → |
| Ninemile Creek At Lakeland Ny | 103 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Onondaga Dam.
Boat launches
- Loop The Lake Trail 280, Syracuse
- Kinne Road 6895, Town Of Dewitt
- Tully Lake
- Markham Hollow Road 279, Town Of Fabius
- Lions Parkway Baldwinsville
- Oneida River
Campgrounds
- Green Lakes State Park
- Rolling Hills Camping Area
- Pine Woods Camping Area
- Forest Lake Campground
- Oneida Shores County Park
- Fillmore Glen State Park
Track Onondaga 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 Onondaga Dam
Where does the data for Onondaga 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 Onondaga Dam.