Upper Massapequa Lake Dam dam
Upper Massapequa Lake Dam
Upper Massapequa Lake Dam, located in Massapequa, New York, is a significant earth dam completed in 1900 primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With a height of 11 feet and a length of 200 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 128 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 17 acres. It is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, ensuring proper inspection, permitting, and enforcement to maintain its structural integrity.
Despite its historical significance, the dam's condition has been assessed as poor, with a significant hazard potential due to its outdated design and maintenance issues. The last inspection in November 2018 highlighted the need for immediate attention to address safety concerns and mitigate risks. The emergency action plan is yet to be prepared or updated, indicating a gap in preparedness for potential incidents. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, it is crucial for stakeholders to prioritize the dam's rehabilitation and risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
In light of the dam's condition and associated risks, collaboration between local government authorities, regulatory agencies, and stakeholders is essential to develop a comprehensive plan for the dam's rehabilitation and maintenance. By addressing the structural deficiencies, updating emergency protocols, and implementing risk management strategies, Upper Massapequa Lake Dam can continue to provide recreational opportunities while safeguarding the community and ecosystem from potential hazards. Water resource and climate enthusiasts are encouraged to advocate for responsible stewardship of this vital infrastructure to preserve its value 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 Upper Massapequa Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Massapequa Creek At Massapequa Ny | 2 cfs | → |
| East Meadow Brook At Freeport Ny | 3 cfs | → |
| Carlls River At Babylon Ny | 15 cfs | → |
| Sampawams Creek At Babylon Ny | 9 cfs | → |
| Valley Stream At Valley Stream Ny | 0 cfs | → |
| Cold Spring Brook At Cold Spring Harbor Ny | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Massapequa Lake Dam.
Track Upper Massapequa Lake 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 Upper Massapequa Lake Dam
Where does the data for Upper Massapequa Lake 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 Upper Massapequa Lake Dam.