Spencer Lake Dam dam
Spencer Lake Dam
Spencer Lake Dam, located in Spencer, New York, serves as a recreational spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts. Built in 1908, this concrete dam stands at 7 feet high and stretches for 335 feet across Catatonk Creek. With a storage capacity of 420 acre-feet and a surface area of 90 acres, the dam provides a tranquil setting for outdoor activities like fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
Managed by a private owner, Spencer Lake Dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), ensuring that it meets safety and environmental standards. The dam has a low hazard potential and is categorized with a moderate risk assessment level. Despite not being rated for its condition, the dam has undergone regular inspections, with the last one conducted in 2014. While an emergency action plan (EAP) has not been prepared, Spencer Lake Dam continues to be a popular destination for locals and visitors alike.
The dam's uncontrolled spillway, 50 feet wide, adds to the picturesque landscape surrounding the dam. With its historical significance and connection to the community, Spencer Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management and the enjoyment of outdoor recreational activities in harmony with nature.
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 Spencer Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sixmile Creek At Brooktondale Ny | 83 cfs | → |
| Sixmile Creek At Bethel Grove | 21 cfs | → |
| Fall Creek Near Ithaca Ny | 98 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Owego Ny | 3,590 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River Near Waverly Ny | 4,320 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Chemung Ny | 1,650 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spencer Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Cayuta Lake Boat Launch
- Sayre
- Hickories Park Parking Lot/Drive Town Of Owego
- Chemung River
- Marshland Road Town Of Owego
- Riverfront
Track Spencer Lake 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 Spencer Lake Dam
Where does the data for Spencer Lake 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 Spencer Lake Dam.