Columbia Corporation Dam dam
Columbia Corporation Dam
The Columbia Corporation Dam, located in East Chatham, New York, serves as a vital water supply resource for the region. Built in 1940, this concrete structure stands at a height of 15 feet and spans 58 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 35 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Owned privately and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment level. Despite not being rated for its condition, the Columbia Corporation Dam continues to operate efficiently for water supply purposes. The spillway, with a width of 50 feet, provides an uncontrolled release of excess water, ensuring the safety and stability of the dam during periods of high flow.
With its location on the Stony Kill river, the Columbia Corporation Dam remains a key infrastructure asset in Columbia County, New York. As a climate and water resource enthusiast, the technical details and regulatory oversight of this dam showcase the importance of sustainable water management practices in maintaining a reliable water supply for the community.
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 Columbia Corporation Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Kinderhook Creek At Rossman Ny | 175 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 187 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 17 cfs | → |
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 25 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Columbia Corporation Dam.
Boat launches
- Kinderhook Lake
- Beech Road, Richmond
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- South River Street Coxsackie
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
Campgrounds
- Fox Hollow Camping
- Pittsfield State Forest
- Sites 11, 12, 13
- October Mountain State Forest
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
- First Bridge To Walloomsac Brook
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Columbia Corporation 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 Columbia Corporation Dam
Where does the data for Columbia Corporation 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 Low 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 Columbia Corporation Dam.