Lock E8 Scotia dam
Lock E8 Scotia
Lock E8 Scotia, located along the Mohawk River in Scotia, New York, is a state-regulated hydroelectric dam completed in 1910 with a primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power and facilitating navigation. The dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans 530 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 4,715 acre-feet and a controlled spillway width of 510 feet. Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), the dam has low hazard potential and is inspected regularly by both state and federal agencies.
The lock plays a crucial role in regulating water levels along the Erie Canal and the Mohawk River, contributing to the area's water resource management and climate resilience efforts. With a very high risk assessment rating, the dam is closely monitored for any potential hazards, although its condition assessment is currently not available. Despite its age, Lock E8 Scotia continues to operate efficiently, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure for sustainable 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 Lock E8 Scotia -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schoharie Creek At Burtonsville Ny | 676 cfs | → |
| Glowegee Creek At West Milton Ny | 37 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 13,600 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 104 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 9,390 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lock E8 Scotia .
Boat launches
- Alco Heritage Trail Schenectady
- Lock 7 Boat Launch
- Erie Canal Towpath Town Of Clifton Park
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
- Mohawk River
- Forts Ferry Road 246, Town Of Colonie
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Northampton Beach - Dec
- Rustic Barn Campground
- Max V Shaul State Park
- Moreau Lake State Park
Track Lock E8 Scotia 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 Lock E8 Scotia
Where does the data for Lock E8 Scotia 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 Lock E8 Scotia .