Pulaski Dam dam
Pulaski Dam
Pulaski Dam, located in Oswego, New York, was completed in 1918 and serves as a vital recreation spot for water enthusiasts in the area. The dam, standing at 15 feet tall and stretching 100 feet in length, holds a maximum storage capacity of 54 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 7 acres. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a serene environment for visitors to enjoy activities such as fishing, boating, and picnicking.
Despite its recreational benefits, Pulaski Dam has been assessed to have poor structural condition and significant hazard potential, indicating a need for maintenance and potential upgrades to ensure safety and longevity. The dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement processes in place. The dam's spillway, characterized as uncontrolled and 30 feet wide, allows for a maximum discharge of 255 cubic feet per second, providing essential flood control measures for the surrounding area.
With its moderate risk assessment rating and historical significance, Pulaski Dam remains a key feature in the local landscape, offering both recreational opportunities and essential water management functions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the importance of maintaining and enhancing infrastructure like Pulaski Dam is crucial for ensuring the resilience and sustainability of water resources in the face of changing environmental conditions.
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 Pulaski Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon River At Pineville Ny | 953 cfs | → |
| Sandy Creek Near Adams Ny | 655 cfs | → |
| Oswego River At Lock 7 | 8,880 cfs | → |
| Scriba Creek Near Constantia Ny | 121 cfs | → |
| Oneida River Near Euclid Ny | 1,130 cfs | → |
| Black River At Watertown Ny | 4,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pulaski Dam.
Boat launches
- Doreen Drive Town Of Sandy Creek
- County Route 40 Town Of Mexico
- South Colwell Pond
- South Sandy Creek
- Lakeview Pond
- Six Town Pond
Campgrounds
- Bears Sleepy Hollow
- Selkirk Shores State Park
- Southwick Beach State Park
- Westcott Beach State Park
- Oneida Shores County Park
Track Pulaski 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 Pulaski Dam
Where does the data for Pulaski 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 Pulaski Dam.