Bethlehem Reservoir Dam dam
Bethlehem Reservoir Dam
Bethlehem Reservoir Dam, located in Cedar Hill, Albany, New York, is a crucial structure owned by the local government for water supply purposes. Completed in 1995, this earth dam stands at a height of 24 feet and spans 1400 feet, with a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet and a surface area of 4 acres. Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam's condition remains unrated, with the last inspection conducted in July 1995.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Bethlehem Reservoir Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with standards. With a spillway width of 5 feet and a maximum discharge of 12 cubic feet per second, this uncontrolled spillway dam plays a critical role in managing water resources in the region. While its emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently unspecified, the dam continues to serve as a vital component of the local water infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Bethlehem Reservoir Dam offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of infrastructure, environmental stewardship, and public safety. As a key part of New York's water supply system, this dam represents a balance between human needs and natural resources, highlighting the importance of effective regulation, monitoring, and risk management in safeguarding our water sources in the face of changing climatic conditions.
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 Bethlehem Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 11,500 cfs | → |
| Kinderhook Creek At Rossman Ny | 175 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 3,010 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethlehem Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Kinderhook Lake
- South River Street Coxsackie
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Fox Hollow Camping
- Pittsfield State Forest
Paddle runs
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- First Bridge To Walloomsac Brook
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Headwaters To First Bridge
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
Track Bethlehem Reservoir 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 Bethlehem Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Bethlehem Reservoir 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 Bethlehem Reservoir Dam.