Mill Pond Dam dam
Mill Pond Dam
Mill Pond Dam in Grafton, New York, is a state-owned earth dam completed in 1918 for recreational purposes on the TR-QUACKEN KILL stream. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 150 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 173 acre-feet and a surface area of 17 acres. It has a high hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, last inspected in January 2020 with a frequency of every 2 years.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 10 feet and a maximum discharge of 160 cfs. Located in Rensselaer County, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with no emergency action plan prepared as of the last update in 2010. Despite its poor condition, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of recreation in the area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Mill Pond Dam can explore its historical significance as a recreational structure while considering its maintenance and risk management measures. The dam's location on the TR-QUACKEN KILL stream adds to its ecological importance, highlighting the intersection of human infrastructure with natural water systems in the region. As efforts to mitigate risks and ensure public safety continue, the future of Mill Pond Dam remains a topic of interest for those invested in sustainable water resource management and climate resilience.
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 Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 9,390 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Eagle Bridge Ny | 1,040 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 13,600 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Green River At Williamstown | 88 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- 123rd Street 6, City Of Troy
- Lock One Road Town Of Halfmoon
- Pine Ridge Drive 27, Pownal
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
- Flightlock Road Town Of Waterford
- Hudson River Road 951, City Of Mechanicville
Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Sherman Brook Campsite
- Stoney Ledge Group Site
- Birch Group Site
- Ash Group Site
Track Mill Pond 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 Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Mill Pond 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 Mill Pond Dam.