Keuka Lake Outlet Dam dam
Keuka Lake Outlet Dam
The Keuka Lake Outlet Dam, located in Penn Yan, New York, was completed in 1880 and serves as a vital structure for flood risk reduction along the Keuka Lake Outlet. This concrete dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a length of 100 feet, with a maximum storage capacity of 165,000 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is flood risk reduction, although it also provides recreational opportunities in the area.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Keuka Lake Outlet Dam has a high hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. Despite not being rated for condition assessment, the dam undergoes regular inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The controlled spillway, with a width of 60 feet, helps manage water flow during peak periods and prevent downstream flooding.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Keuka Lake Outlet Dam represents a crucial infrastructure project that plays a significant role in protecting the surrounding communities from potential flood events. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance efforts, this dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective water management practices in safeguarding our natural environment and public safety.
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 Keuka Lake Outlet Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Keuka Lake Outlet At Dresden Ny | 170 cfs | → |
| Canandaigua Outlet At Chapin Ny | 160 cfs | → |
| Flint Creek At Phelps Ny | 102 cfs | → |
| Cohocton River At Avoca Ny | 267 cfs | → |
| Cohocton River Near Campbell Ny | 484 cfs | → |
| Erie (Barge) Canal At Lock 30 | 209 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Keuka Lake Outlet Dam.
Boat launches
- Guyanoga Creek
- Seneca Lake Boat Launch
- Lodi Point State Marine Park
- West River
- Seneca Lake State Park Fayette Town
- Pipe Pk Road Schuyler County
Track Keuka Lake Outlet 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 Keuka Lake Outlet Dam
Where does the data for Keuka Lake Outlet 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 Keuka Lake Outlet Dam.