Ray Lake Dam dam
Ray Lake Dam
Ray Lake Dam, located in Patterson, New York, was completed in 1907 and serves as a recreational water resource along the TR-East Branch Croton River. This private dam, standing at a height of 10 feet and a length of 160 feet, offers a serene surface area of 13 acres for visitors to enjoy. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regulated and inspected by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to ensure safety and compliance with state standards.
With a maximum storage capacity of 65 acre-feet, Ray Lake Dam provides a peaceful retreat for outdoor enthusiasts seeking leisure activities such as fishing, boating, and birdwatching. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and moderate risk assessment highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, its historical significance and scenic surroundings make it a valuable asset for both the local community and visitors to the area.
Managed by private owners, Ray Lake Dam offers a glimpse into the intersection of water resource management and recreational opportunities in New York. The dam's presence on the East Branch Croton River adds to the diverse landscape of Dutchess County, inviting exploration and appreciation of the natural environment. As climate change impacts water resources worldwide, the stewardship of dams like Ray Lake becomes increasingly vital to ensure the sustainability and resilience of these valuable assets for future generations.
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 Ray Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Horse Pound Brook Near Lake Carmel Ny | 2 cfs | → |
| East Branch Croton River Near Putnam Lake Ny | 30 cfs | → |
| Tenmile River Near Gaylordsville | 170 cfs | → |
| W Br Croton River Below Dam Near Kent Cliffs Ny | 12 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Gaylordsville | 953 cfs | → |
| West Branch Croton River At Richardsville Ny | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ray Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Squantz Pond
- Old Bogus Road 4, New Fairfield
- Grove Street 251, New Milford
- Candlewood Lake (Lattins Cove)
- Danbury Boat Launch
- South Kent Road Kent
Campgrounds
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
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
Track Ray Lake 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 Ray Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ray Lake 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 Ray Lake Dam.