Lake Skemonto Dam dam
Lake Skemonto Dam
Lake Skemonto Dam, located in Sloatsburg, New York, is a concrete structure completed in 1934 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 29 feet and a length of 570 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 520 acre-feet for Lake Skemonto. The dam also features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 145 feet to manage potential overflow.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Lake Skemonto Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The dam, which is situated on the TR-Lake Sebago river system, has a normal storage capacity of 500 acre-feet and a surface area of 37 acres. Although the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a rating of 3, there are currently no specific risk management measures or plans in place.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Skemonto Dam presents an intriguing case study of a recreational dam with historical significance and potential safety concerns. With its picturesque location and vital role in providing water storage and flood control measures, the dam serves as a focal point for ongoing monitoring and management efforts to ensure its continued safety and functionality for both recreational and environmental purposes.
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 Lake Skemonto Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mahwah River Near Suffern Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 55 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Suffern Ny | 35 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River Near Mahwah Nj | 73 cfs | → |
| Ringwood Creek Near Wanaque Nj | 8 cfs | → |
| Wanaque River At Awosting Nj | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Skemonto Dam.
Boat launches
- Laurel Meadow Drive Town Of Warwick
- Blue Lake Road Town Of Warwick
- Ringwood-Ramapo Trail Ringwood
- Battlefield Road Town Of Stony Point
- Greenwood Lake Turnpike Ringwood
- Broadway Buchanan
Campgrounds
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Round Pond Military
- Croton Point Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
Fishing spots
Track Lake Skemonto 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 Lake Skemonto Dam
Where does the data for Lake Skemonto 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 Lake Skemonto Dam.