Wappingers Falls dam
Wappingers Falls
Wappingers Falls, also known as the Clinton Dam, is a historic masonry dam located in Wappingers Falls, New York. Built in 1872, this dam serves multiple purposes, including hydroelectric power generation, fire protection, stock or small fish pond, navigation, and recreation. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 245 feet, it holds a storage capacity of 700 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 100 acres.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), Wappingers Falls Dam has a high hazard potential due to its location on the Wappinger Creek. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) oversees its operations, inspections, and enforcement. In case of emergencies, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, last revised in October 2018, to ensure prompt response and public safety.
Despite its age, Wappingers Falls Dam remains a vital infrastructure for water resource management in Dutchess County, New York. Its moderate risk assessment highlights the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its continued functionality and safety for the surrounding community. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam serves as a significant piece of history and a key player in the region's water management system.
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 Wappingers Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wappinger Creek Near Wappingers Falls Ny | 120 cfs | → |
| West Branch Croton River At Richardsville Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Wallkill River At Gardiner Ny | 286 cfs | → |
| W Br Croton River Below Dam Near Kent Cliffs Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Horse Pound Brook Near Lake Carmel Ny | 2 cfs | → |
| West Branch Croton River Near Carmel Ny | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wappingers Falls .
Boat launches
- Spring Street 51, Wappingers Falls
- Market Street 114, Wappingers Falls
- Old Indian Trail 98, Town Of Marlborough
- Main Street Poughkeepsie
- River Road 46, Town Of Lloyd
- Clearwater Drive Town Of Poughkeepsie
Campgrounds
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park
- Round Pond Military
- Samuel F. Pryor Iii Shawangunk Gateway Campground
- Margaret Norrie State Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Winding Hills Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
Track Wappingers Falls 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 Wappingers Falls
Where does the data for Wappingers Falls 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 Wappingers Falls .