Dead Creek Dam dam
Dead Creek Dam
Dead Creek Dam, located in Clinton, New York, is a state-owned earth dam designed for the primary purpose of recreation. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 200 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 120 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 24 acres. The dam is situated on TR-Lake Champlain and is regulated by the NYS DEC, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is rated as moderate (3). The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 8 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 300 cubic feet per second. The last inspection of Dead Creek Dam took place in October 1999, with its condition currently labeled as "Not Rated." While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets state guidelines and continues to be monitored for any potential risks or management measures that may need to be implemented in the future.
Overall, Dead Creek Dam serves as a vital recreational resource in the area, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, and other leisure activities. With its strategic location on Lake Champlain and its capacity for water storage, the dam plays a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and maintaining water levels in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to stay informed about the condition and management of dams like Dead Creek to ensure their continued safety and effectiveness in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Dead Creek Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Ausable River Near Valcour Ny | 48 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 55 cfs | → |
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Ausable River Near Au Sable Forks Ny | 653 cfs | → |
| Potash Br @ Queen City Park Rd | 116 cfs | → |
| Englesby Brook At Burlington | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dead Creek Dam.
Boat launches
- Peru Boat Launch
- Port Douglas Boat Launch
- Sunrise Drive South Hero
- Green Street Plattsburgh
- Green Street 32, Plattsburgh
- Fish Hatchery Road Grand Isle
Campgrounds
- Ausable Point - Dec
- Primitive Campsite 15
- Primitive Campsite 16
- Primitive Campsite 20
- Primitive Campsite 19
- Primitive Campsite 14
Track Dead Creek 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 Dead Creek Dam
Where does the data for Dead Creek 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 Dead Creek Dam.