Loudonville Reservoir Dam dam
Loudonville Reservoir Dam
Loudonville Reservoir Dam, located in Albany, New York, serves as a critical water supply source for the area. Completed in 1936, this earth dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 500 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 698 acre-feet. The dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region, with a normal storage level of 652 acre-feet and a surface area of 29 acres.
Despite its age, the dam is deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in June 2018. However, due to its high hazard potential, regular inspections are conducted, with the most recent one taking place in August 2020. The dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and various state agencies are involved in permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
With its strategic location and key role in water supply management, Loudonville Reservoir Dam stands as a significant infrastructure asset in the region. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find interest in the dam's design, purpose, and the measures in place to mitigate potential risks, making it a notable site for further study and appreciation of water resource management practices.
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 Loudonville Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 33 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 8,020 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 1,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 2,930 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Loudonville Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Forts Ferry Road 246, Town Of Colonie
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
- Clamsteam Road Boat Launch
- Crescent Road Town Of Colonie
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Pittsfield State Forest
- Sites 11, 12, 13
Track Loudonville 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 Loudonville Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Loudonville 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 High 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 Loudonville Reservoir Dam.