Beaver Lake Dam dam
Beaver Lake Dam
Beaver Lake Dam, located in Alma, New York, is a private dam on Honeoye Creek with a primary purpose of recreation. This earth dam stands at 7 feet high and spans 180 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 320 acre-feet. While the dam is regulated by the NYS DEC and undergoes state inspections, its hazard potential is rated as low, with a very high risk assessment score of 1. Despite being last inspected in 1983, the condition assessment of the dam is currently listed as "Not Rated".
Managed by private owners, Beaver Lake Dam offers recreational opportunities in Allegany County, New York. With a surface area of 32 acres and a controlled spillway width of 6 feet, the dam provides a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing. Though the dam has not been modified in recent years, it remains a vital part of the local landscape and serves as a valuable water resource for the community. The dam's location on Honeoye Creek adds to its appeal, attracting visitors to its scenic surroundings.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Beaver Lake Dam is an intriguing structure that combines both recreational and regulatory elements. With its low hazard potential and high risk assessment score, the dam presents an interesting case study in dam safety and management. As a privately owned facility with state oversight, Beaver Lake Dam embodies the importance of balancing environmental protection with public enjoyment, making it a notable feature in the water infrastructure of New York.
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 Beaver Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Genesee River At Wellsville Ny | 653 cfs | → |
| Oswayo Creek At Shinglehouse | 342 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Eldred | 1,840 cfs | → |
| Allegheny River At Port Allegany | 769 cfs | → |
| Cowanesque River At Westfield | 191 cfs | → |
| Canisteo R Below Canacadea Cr @ Hornell Ny | 247 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beaver Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Four Mile Road Alma
- County Road 16 Allegany County
- Lyman Run State Park
- Allen Lake
- Hamlin Lake
- Southern Tier Expressway Cattaraugus County
Track Beaver 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 Beaver Lake Dam
Where does the data for Beaver 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 Beaver Lake Dam.