Nathaniel Cole Park Dam dam
Nathaniel Cole Park Dam
Nathaniel Cole Park Dam, also known as Cole Park Recreation Lake, is a local government-owned structure located in Windsor, New York. Constructed in 1973 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 46 feet and stretches 1590 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 935 acre-feet. The dam primarily serves recreational purposes, offering visitors a 55-acre surface area for activities such as boating and fishing.
Managed by the NYS DEC, Nathaniel Cole Park Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. With a spillway width of 140 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 395 cubic feet per second, the dam poses a significant hazard potential and is classified as having a moderate risk level. The Emergency Action Plan for the dam was last revised in January 2020, and the dam undergoes inspections every four years to assess its condition and mitigate any potential risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Nathaniel Cole Park Dam provides an interesting case study of a locally owned recreational dam with state-regulated operations. The dam's design and construction by the Natural Resources Conservation Service showcase the importance of collaboration between federal and state agencies in managing water resources for public benefit. With its picturesque location along Still Creek in Broome County, New York, the dam serves as a vital recreational asset while also highlighting the need for proper risk assessment and emergency preparedness in dam management.
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 Nathaniel Cole Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Susquehanna River At Windsor Ny | 1,700 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Conklin Ny | 2,030 cfs | → |
| Chenango River Near Chenango Forks Ny | 1,340 cfs | → |
| Chenango River At Greene Ny | 540 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Bainbridge Ny | 1,430 cfs | → |
| West Br Delaware River At Stilesville Ny | 452 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nathaniel Cole Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Colesville Town
- Susquehanna River
- Great Bend Boro Access
- Oakland Access
- Great Bend Twp/Hallstead
- Great Bend
Track Nathaniel Cole Park 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 Nathaniel Cole Park Dam
Where does the data for Nathaniel Cole Park 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 Nathaniel Cole Park Dam.