Fern Lake Dam dam
Fern Lake Dam
Fern Lake Dam, located in Black Brook, New York, is a significant concrete structure completed in 1912 with a primary purpose of recreation. With a structural height of 11 feet and a length of 125 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 1,860 acre-feet and serves a drainage area of 3.4 square miles. The dam's controlled spillway, with a width of 13 feet, ensures a maximum discharge of 40 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial infrastructure for water resource management in the region.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Fern Lake Dam poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The dam's last inspection in August 2019 raised concerns about its structural integrity, prompting the need for regular monitoring and maintenance. The risk assessment categorizes the dam with a very high risk level, indicating the importance of implementing effective risk management measures to prevent potential disasters. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Fern Lake Dam serves as a notable landmark that underscores the importance of proactive maintenance and monitoring to ensure the safety and sustainability of our water infrastructure.
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 Fern Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| E Br Ausable River At Au Sable Forks Ny | 348 cfs | → |
| Ausable River Near Au Sable Forks Ny | 868 cfs | → |
| Little Ausable River Near Valcour Ny | 76 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 75 cfs | → |
| Bouquet River At Willsboro Ny | 322 cfs | → |
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,500 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fern Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Franklin Falls Flow
- Port Douglas Boat Launch
- Peru Boat Launch
- Moose Pond
- Chazy Lake
- Green Street 32, Plattsburgh
Campgrounds
- Taylor Pond - Dec
- Macomb Reservation State Park
- Wilmington Notch - Dec
- Poke-O-Moonshine - Dec
- Lost Pond Campsite
- Gulf Brook Campsite #2
Track Fern 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 Fern Lake Dam
Where does the data for Fern 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 Fern Lake Dam.