New Mill Pond Dam dam
New Mill Pond Dam
New Mill Pond Dam, located in Smithtown, Suffolk County, New York, is a local government-owned structure built in 1825 primarily for recreational purposes. The earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and spans a length of 465 feet, with a storage capacity of 545 acre-feet. Situated along the Northeast Branch river, the dam has a spillway width of 18 feet and a surface area of 109 acres, serving as a popular spot for outdoor activities.
Despite being classified with a low hazard potential and not yet assessed for its condition, New Mill Pond Dam poses a moderate risk due to its age and lack of recent inspections. The dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and has been granted state permits for operation, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection was conducted in October 2011, and while the Emergency Action Plan status is unspecified, the dam's risk management measures are not detailed.
Climate and water resource enthusiasts may be intrigued by the historical significance and structural characteristics of New Mill Pond Dam. With its picturesque location and potential for recreational use, the dam serves as a focal point for local activities while also raising concerns about its maintenance and risk management strategies. As a part of the larger water infrastructure in the area, the dam's condition and regulatory oversight offer valuable insights into the challenges of balancing conservation and public access in a changing climate landscape.
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 New Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nissequogue River Near Smithtown Ny | 31 cfs | → |
| Connetquot Bk Nr Central Islip Ny | 20 cfs | → |
| Sampawams Creek At Babylon Ny | 9 cfs | → |
| Carlls River At Babylon Ny | 14 cfs | → |
| Cold Spring Brook At Cold Spring Harbor Ny | 2 cfs | → |
| Swan River At East Patchogue Ny | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Long Island Greenbelt Trail Suffolk County
- Lake Ronkonkoma
- Long Beach Road Nissequogue
- Scudder Park
- Asharoken Avenue Asharoken
Campgrounds
- Blydenburgh Park
- Park Shore Day Camp
- Battle Row
- Cathedral Pines County Park
- Watch Hill Campgrounds
- Southaven County Park
Fishing spots
Track New Mill Pond 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 New Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for New Mill Pond 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 New Mill Pond Dam.