Charles J Owens Dam dam
Charles J Owens Dam
Charles J Owens Dam, located in Lounsberry, New York, is a private dam primarily used for recreation on the TR-Hunts Creek. Constructed in 1972, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and spans 480 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 52 acre-feet. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam is regulated by the NYS DEC and undergoes state permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure safety and compliance.
Despite being classified as low hazard, Charles J Owens Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and regulating water flow in the area. The dam's uncontrolled spillway, with a width of 24 feet, can handle a maximum discharge of 110 cubic feet per second. The dam's normal storage capacity of 27 acre-feet supports a surface area of 7 acres, benefitting both the local community and wildlife in the surrounding Tioga County.
With its location in the Buffalo District and oversight by the NYS DEC, Charles J Owens Dam remains a key infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience efforts in New York. Although its condition assessment is currently not rated, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of recreation while contributing to the overall safety and sustainability of the region's water resources.
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 Charles J Owens Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wappasening Creek Near Windham Center | 18 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Owego Ny | 4,030 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River Near Waverly Ny | 4,740 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Vestal Ny | 4,140 cfs | → |
| Choconut Creek Near Choconut | 18 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Chemung Ny | 1,970 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Charles J Owens Dam.
Boat launches
- Hickories Park Parking Lot/Drive Town Of Owego
- Marshland Road Town Of Owego
- Susquehanna River
- Cook's Pond
- Sayre
- Riverfront
Campgrounds
- Hickories Park
- Larnard Hornbrook County Park
- Greenwood County Park
- Salt Springs State Park
- Newtown Battlefield State Park
- Park Station Rec Area
More reservoirs
Track Charles J Owens 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 Charles J Owens Dam
Where does the data for Charles J Owens 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 Charles J Owens Dam.