Potsdam - West Dam dam
Potsdam - West Dam
Potsdam-West Dam, located in St. Lawrence County, New York, is a concrete gravity dam completed in 1990 for hydroelectric purposes on the Raquette River. With a height of 11 feet and a storage capacity of 750 acre-feet, this dam serves a variety of functions including debris control, fire protection, and water supply. The dam also offers recreational opportunities and contributes to flood risk reduction in the area.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Potsdam-West Dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. The dam has a spillway width of 200 feet and covers a surface area of 300 acres within a drainage area of 1031 square miles. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is not available, indicating a need for further evaluation to ensure its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding community and ecosystem.
Overall, Potsdam-West Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region. With its multiple benefits and regulatory oversight, the dam stands as a key infrastructure asset that supports both the local economy and the environment. Ongoing monitoring and maintenance will be essential to safeguard the dam's integrity and maximize its long-term sustainability for future generations.
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 Potsdam - West Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Raquette River At Raymondville Ny | 2,050 cfs | → |
| Raquette River At South Colton Ny | 1,050 cfs | → |
| Grass River At Chase Mills Ny | 992 cfs | → |
| W Br St. Regis R Nr Parishville Ny | 362 cfs | → |
| St. Regis River At Brasher Center Ny | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Oswegatchie River Near Heuvelton Ny | 2,030 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Potsdam - West Dam .
Boat launches
- Colton
- Grass River
- St Regis River
- Mcginnis Road 398, Saint Lawrence County
- Park Lane Waddington
- Wilson Hill Causeway Saint Lawrence County
Track Potsdam - West 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 Potsdam - West Dam
Where does the data for Potsdam - West 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 Potsdam - West Dam .