Howard Lafever Dam dam
Howard Lafever Dam
Howard Lafever Dam, located in South Kortright, New York, is a private earth dam completed in 1976 primarily used for recreation purposes. Standing at a height of 17 feet and stretching 755 feet in length, the dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 159 acre-feet and normal storage of 98 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-W Branch Delaware River, the dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled, has a width of 35 feet and a maximum discharge of 60 cubic feet per second.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, with a risk assessment rating of moderate, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the NYS DEC. The last inspection in January 2019 revealed the need for improvements, with an inspection frequency of every 4 years. The emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures for the dam remain undisclosed, indicating potential areas for further assessment and action to ensure the safety and stability of the structure for water resource and climate enthusiasts in the area.
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 Howard Lafever Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Delaware River At Hobart Ny | 17 cfs | → |
| Town Brook Southeast Of Hobart Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| East Branch Delaware River At Roxbury Ny | 15 cfs | → |
| W Br Delaware River Upstream From Delhi Ny | 154 cfs | → |
| Little Delaware River Near Delhi Ny | 51 cfs | → |
| Mine Kill Near North Blenheim Ny | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Howard Lafever Dam.
Boat launches
- Mine Kill State Park Road Town Of Blenheim
- Susquehanna River
- Bureau Of Water Supply Road 3 Town Of Andes
- Nyc 4 Road Town Of Andes
- Schoharie Creek Parking Fishing Access
Track Howard Lafever 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 Howard Lafever Dam
Where does the data for Howard Lafever 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 Significant 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 Howard Lafever Dam.