Delta Dam dam
Delta Dam
Delta Dam, located in Rome, New York, is a concrete structure completed in 1912 primarily for navigation purposes on the Mohawk River. Standing at 106 feet tall and spanning 1000 feet in length, the dam has a storage capacity of 87,500 acre-feet, making it a crucial infrastructure for water resource management in the region. With a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 21,600 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a key role in regulating water flow and preventing flooding in the area.
Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, Delta Dam is deemed to be in fair condition as of the last assessment in 2016. The dam is under the regulatory oversight of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, ensuring regular inspections and enforcement of safety measures. Emergency action plans are in place, although their last revision was in January 2020. With a very high risk assessment rating, Delta Dam remains a critical infrastructure for managing water resources and mitigating risks associated with potential emergencies in the region. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Delta Dam to be a fascinating case study of engineering ingenuity and the importance of effective dam management in ensuring community safety and environmental sustainability.
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 Delta Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mohawk River Below Delta Dam Near Rome Ny | 622 cfs | → |
| East Branch Fish Creek At Taberg Ny | 499 cfs | → |
| Oneida Creek At Oneida Ny | 676 cfs | → |
| Black River Near Boonville Ny | 2,090 cfs | → |
| West Canada Creek Near Wilmurt Ny | 2,850 cfs | → |
| West Canada Creek At Kast Bridge Ny | 1,930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Delta Dam.
Boat launches
- Delta Lake State Park Town Of Western
- Mohawk River
- Oneida Lake
- Chittning Pond
- South Washington Street Herkimer
- Lake Moraine
Campgrounds
Track Delta 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 Delta Dam
Where does the data for Delta 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 Delta Dam.