Soft Maple Dike No. 4 dam
Soft Maple Dike No. 4
Soft Maple Dike No. 4, located in Belfort, New York, is a privately owned Earth dam completed in 1926 for hydroelectric purposes on the Beaver River. Standing at a height of 15 feet and stretching 300 feet in length, this dam has a storage capacity of 2,678 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 240 acres. Despite having a low hazard potential, the dam is under the jurisdiction of the state and undergoes regular inspections by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
With a total of 8 associated structures, including Soft Maple Dike No. 4, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in Lewis County, New York. The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectricity generation, reflecting its contribution to sustainable energy practices. Despite the absence of a spillway, the dam's risk assessment is rated as high (2), emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures.
Soft Maple Dike No. 4 stands as a historic landmark, blending engineering ingenuity with environmental stewardship. As climate change impacts water resources and energy production, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of resilient infrastructure in maintaining water security and adapting to a changing climate. The collaboration between state and federal agencies in regulating and inspecting the dam underscores the shared responsibility in safeguarding our water resources for future generations.
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 Soft Maple Dike No. 4 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver River At Croghan Ny | 639 cfs | → |
| Independence River At Donnattsburg Ny | 80 cfs | → |
| West Branch Oswegatchie R Nr Harrisville Ny | 271 cfs | → |
| Oswegatchie River Near Oswegatchie Ny | 327 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Inlet Ny | 0 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Soft Maple Dike No. 4 .
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Oswegatchie 41/High Rock
- Oswegatchie 42
- Oswegatchie 43
- Oswegatchie 44
- Oswegatchie 45
- Whetstone Gulf State Park
Track Soft Maple Dike No. 4 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 Soft Maple Dike No. 4
Where does the data for Soft Maple Dike No. 4 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 Soft Maple Dike No. 4 .