Cedar Lake Dam dam
Cedar Lake Dam
Cedar Lake Dam, located in Indian Lake, New York, is a state-owned structure on the Cedar River that was completed in 1904 for the primary purpose of recreation. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a length of 100 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 1195 acre-feet and a surface area of 358 acres. Despite being rated as having a low hazard potential, the dam is categorized as high risk due to its condition assessment being labeled as "Not Rated" and its last inspection date dating back to September 1970.
The Cedar Lake Dam is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place to ensure its safety. Although the dam does not have a spillway, it is equipped with a spillway width of 16 feet to manage any potential overflow events. The risk management measures, emergency action plan, and inundation maps for the dam are currently not available, highlighting the need for updated safety protocols and assessments to mitigate any potential risks associated with the structure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cedar Lake Dam serves as an intriguing case study in dam infrastructure management and risk assessment. With its historical significance dating back over a century and its role in providing recreational opportunities, the dam presents a unique blend of natural beauty and engineering prowess. As discussions around climate change and water resource management intensify, ongoing evaluations and improvements to the safety and regulatory measures of Cedar Lake Dam will be crucial to ensuring the continued protection of the surrounding environment and community.
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 Cedar Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Buck Creek | 1 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Inlet Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Indian River Near Indian Lake Ny | 433 cfs | → |
| Sacandaga River Near Hope Ny | 1,330 cfs | → |
| West Canada Creek Near Wilmurt Ny | 1,350 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At North Creek Ny | 2,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cedar Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Seventh Lake
- State Highway 28 Town Of Arietta
- Forked Lake Boat Launch
- Twichell Lake
- Dock Road 88, Town Of Long Lake
- Stillwater Reservoir
Campgrounds
- Cedar Lakes Dam Campsite
- Third Cedar Lake Campsite
- South Lake Campsite
- Cedar River Flow Campsite
- Lewey Lake - Dec
- Cedar River Campsite
Track Cedar 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 Cedar Lake Dam
Where does the data for Cedar 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 Cedar Lake Dam.