Nawahunta Dam dam
Nawahunta Dam
Nawahunta Dam, also known as Lake Nawahunta, is a state-owned recreational dam located in Orange County, New York. Completed in 1915, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and spans 225 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 69 acre-feet. Situated on Lewis Brook, this dam serves primarily for recreational purposes and has a surface area of 15 acres, offering a serene and picturesque setting for water resource and climate enthusiasts to explore.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), Nawahunta Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state, ensuring its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite its low hazard potential, the risk assessment for this dam indicates a high risk level (2), prompting the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures. With a spillway width of 36 feet and no associated locks, Nawahunta Dam provides a tranquil escape for visitors while also highlighting the importance of responsible dam management in the face of changing climate conditions.
As a historical and recreational landmark in the region, Nawahunta Dam serves as both a recreational haven and a reminder of the crucial role water resources play in our environment. Its serene waters and scenic surroundings offer a glimpse into the intersection of human intervention and natural beauty, underscoring the need for sustainable water resource management practices in the face of climate change. By understanding and appreciating dams like Nawahunta, water resource and climate enthusiasts can gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities presented by our ever-evolving natural landscape.
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 Nawahunta Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mahwah River Near Suffern Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Croton R @ New Croton Dam Nr Croton-On-Hudson Ny | 272 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 60 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 40 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 67 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Nawahunta Dam.
Boat launches
- Battlefield Road Town Of Stony Point
- Broadway Buchanan
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
- Hudson Avenue Peekskill
- Cortlandt Street Cortlandt
- Croton Riverwalk Croton-On-Hudson
Campgrounds
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Round Pond Military
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Croton Point Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
Track Nawahunta 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 Nawahunta Dam
Where does the data for Nawahunta 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 Nawahunta Dam.