Millers Mills Dam dam
Millers Mills Dam
Millers Mills Dam, also known as Unadilla Lake, is a privately owned structure located in Millers Mills, Herkimer County, New York. Built in 1917, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and stretches 200 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, with a surface area of 30 acres and a drainage area of 11.14 square miles along the Unadilla River.
The dam is regulated and permitted by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), with state inspections and enforcement regularly conducted. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been rated recently, and risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk. The spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 40 feet, and the dam has not been modified in recent years, with the last inspection conducted in 1997.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Millers Mills Dam presents an intriguing case study of a historic structure that continues to serve a recreational purpose while being subject to state regulations and inspections. With its picturesque location and moderate risk assessment, the dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring critical infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions and potential hazards.
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 Millers Mills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Steele Cr At Ilion Ny | 26 cfs | → |
| West Canada Creek At Kast Bridge Ny | 1,290 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River Near Little Falls Ny | 2,010 cfs | → |
| East Canada Creek At East Creek Ny | 29 cfs | → |
| Otsquago Creek At Fort Plain Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Canajoharie Creek Nr Canajoharie Ny | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Millers Mills Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Glimmerglass State Park
- St. Johnsville Campsite And Marina
- Emmanuel Christian Campgrounds
- Delta Lake State Park
Track Millers Mills 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 Millers Mills Dam
Where does the data for Millers Mills 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 Millers Mills Dam.