Whitney Point Dam dam
Whitney Point Dam
Whitney Point Dam, also known as Whitney Point Lake, is a Federal-owned structure situated in Broome, New York, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1942, the earth dam stands at 95 feet tall and spans 4900 feet, with a storage capacity of 176,000 acre-feet. The dam, managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, controls the flow of the Otselic River and serves as a vital defense against flooding for downstream communities.
Despite its crucial role in flood risk mitigation, Whitney Point Dam still poses a high hazard potential, with the risk of downstream flooding in severe storm events. The dam's emergency action plan is regularly updated, and the Corps conducts frequent inspections and monitoring to ensure structural integrity and readiness for flood events. While the dam significantly reduces the risk of flooding, scenarios involving breach or high-volume releases from the spillway could lead to devastating consequences for communities along the Ostelic, Tioughnioga, Chenango, and Susquehanna Rivers.
In light of these risks, the US Army Corps of Engineers implements strict risk management measures to safeguard the dam and downstream areas. With ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and emergency response exercises, the Corps aims to minimize the potential impact of flooding events and protect the surrounding communities from the destructive force of floodwaters. The careful management and preparedness efforts surrounding Whitney Point Dam underscore the critical role it plays in mitigating flood risks in the region.
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 Whitney Point Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Chenango River At Greene Ny | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Chenango River Near Chenango Forks Ny | 2,960 cfs | → |
| Otselic River At Cincinnatus Ny | 396 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Vestal Ny | 5,920 cfs | → |
| Tioughnioga River At Cortland Ny | 762 cfs | → |
| Sixmile Creek At Brooktondale Ny | 83 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitney Point Dam.
Track Whitney Point 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 Whitney Point Dam
Where does the data for Whitney Point 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 High 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 Whitney Point Dam.