Van Natta Dam dam
Van Natta Dam
Van Natta Dam, located in Ithaca, New York, is a concrete structure completed in 1907 with a height of 12 feet and a length of 142 feet. The dam, situated on Six Mile Creek, serves as a water resource for the area with a maximum storage capacity of 9 acre-feet and a normal storage of 9 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is listed as "Other", indicating its importance in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its age, the dam is still regulated by the NYS DEC and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. However, the condition assessment in 2017 reported the dam's condition as poor, with a significant hazard potential. The risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, highlighting the importance of implementing risk management measures to mitigate potential dangers associated with the dam.
With a significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the Van Natta Dam poses a potential risk to the surrounding area. Efforts to improve its condition and implement appropriate risk management measures are crucial to ensure the safety and security of the community relying on its water resources. With ongoing regulatory oversight and inspections, it is essential to address the dam's maintenance needs and prioritize its structural integrity to prevent potential hazards and safeguard the local environment.
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 Van Natta Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Creek Near Ithaca Ny | 98 cfs | → |
| Sixmile Creek At Bethel Grove | 21 cfs | → |
| Sixmile Creek At Brooktondale Ny | 83 cfs | → |
| Tioughnioga River At Cortland Ny | 339 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Owego Ny | 3,590 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Elmira Ny | 1,360 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Van Natta Dam.
Boat launches
- Cayuta Lake Boat Launch
- Ny 414 Watkins Glen
- Nanticoke Lake
- Lodi Point State Marine Park
- Seneca Lake Boat Launch
- Whitney Point Reservoir
Track Van Natta 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 Van Natta Dam
Where does the data for Van Natta 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 Van Natta Dam.