Melzingah Dam dam
Melzingah Dam
Melzingah Dam, located in Dutchess Junction, New York, stands as a vital water resource structure with a primary purpose of water supply. Constructed in 1924, this concrete dam boasts a height of 51 feet and a length of 525 feet, providing a storage capacity of 218 acre-feet. The dam, situated on GORDONS BROOK, is under state regulation by the NYS DEC, with inspections and enforcement ensuring its proper functioning.
Despite its key role in water supply, Melzingah Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which has been rated as poor. Furthermore, the dam's hazard potential is classified as high, signaling the need for heightened risk management measures. Despite these concerns, the dam continues to serve as a critical infrastructure in the region, with a moderate risk level of 3, indicating the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its safety and reliability for the community.
As an essential water supply structure in Dutchess County, Melzingah Dam's significance extends beyond its physical attributes to its role in safeguarding water resources for the region. With its rich history dating back nearly a century, the dam stands as a reminder of the intricate relationship between water management, climate resilience, and infrastructure challenges in the face of changing environmental conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the complexities and potential risks associated with structures like Melzingah Dam underscores the importance of proactive stewardship and adaptive management practices to ensure the long-term sustainability of our water systems.
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 Melzingah Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Croton River At Richardsville Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| W Br Croton River Below Dam Near Kent Cliffs Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| Wappinger Creek Near Wappingers Falls Ny | 120 cfs | → |
| Muscoot River At Baldwin Place Ny | 4 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 Melzingah Dam.
Boat launches
- Market Street 114, Wappingers Falls
- Spring Street 51, Wappingers Falls
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
- Old Indian Trail 98, Town Of Marlborough
- Hudson Avenue Peekskill
- Broadway Buchanan
Campgrounds
- Round Pond Military
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Winding Hills Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
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
Track Melzingah 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 Melzingah Dam
Where does the data for Melzingah 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 Melzingah Dam.