Rail Joint Mill Dam dam
Rail Joint Mill Dam
Rail Joint Mill Dam, also known as Portec Dam, is a historic masonry dam located in Troy, New York, along the WYNANTSKILL river. Built in 1903 for irrigation purposes, the dam stands at 25 feet high and spans 165 feet in length. Despite its age and significant hazard potential, the dam is in poor condition as of the last assessment in April 2019.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, Rail Joint Mill Dam has a storage capacity of 10 acre-feet and a spillway width of 150 feet. Its uncontrolled spillway type poses a moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3. The dam's emergency action plan status and adherence to guidelines remain unclear, raising concerns about its ability to handle potential disasters and inundation events.
With its rich history and vital role in irrigation, Rail Joint Mill Dam serves as a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the preservation and management of aging infrastructure. The dam's current condition, inspection frequency, and risk assessment highlight the need for ongoing monitoring and potential rehabilitation efforts to ensure the safety and functionality of this important water resource structure.
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 Rail Joint Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 13,600 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 4,520 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 104 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 9,390 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Rail Joint Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- 123rd Street 6, City Of Troy
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
- North Schermerhorn Road 22, City Of Cohoes
- Flightlock Road Town Of Waterford
Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Pittsfield State Forest
- Sites 11, 12, 13
Track Rail Joint Mill 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 Rail Joint Mill Dam
Where does the data for Rail Joint Mill 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 Rail Joint Mill Dam.