Carelas Lake Dam dam
Carelas Lake Dam
Carelas Lake Dam, also known as Lake Barbara Dam, is a privately owned structure located in Freehold, New York. Built in 1952, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and stretches 2160 feet in length, creating a surface area of 30 acres and a storage capacity of 270 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is for recreation, providing an idyllic setting for activities such as boating, fishing, and picnicking.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspection, enforcement, and permitting processes. Despite its low hazard potential, a high risk assessment rating has been assigned to the dam, indicating the importance of ongoing risk management measures. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, it remains a key component of the local water resource infrastructure.
Located on the TR-Basic Creek, Carelas Lake Dam serves as a valuable asset for the community, offering both recreational opportunities and water resource management benefits. As climate change continues to affect water resources, the careful monitoring and maintenance of dams like Carelas Lake Dam are essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of our water supply.
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 Carelas Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Kinderhook Creek At Rossman Ny | 175 cfs | → |
| East Kill Nr Jewett Center Ny | 13 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
| Schoharie Creek Near Lexington Ny | 64 cfs | → |
| West Kill Below Hunter Brook Near Spruceton Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Batavia Kill At Red Falls Near Prattsville Ny | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carelas Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Green Lake
- South River Street Coxsackie
- Athens Boat Launch
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- Anchorage Road Germantown
- Kinderhook Lake
Campgrounds
- North/South Lake - Dec
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Devils Tombstone - Dec
- Rip Van Winkle Camping
- Koa Camping
Track Carelas 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 Carelas Lake Dam
Where does the data for Carelas 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 Low 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 Carelas Lake Dam.