Mcgregor Dam dam
Mcgregor Dam
Mcgregor Dam, also known as Miner Lake, is a state-owned structure located in Altona, New York, along the Chazy River. Completed in 1968, this buttress dam stands at a height of 37 feet and spans 735 feet in length, providing important recreational opportunities for visitors in the region. With a normal storage capacity of 735 acre-feet and a surface area of 147 acres, the dam serves as a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts seeking to enjoy water-based activities in the area.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), Mcgregor Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. Although the dam has a high hazard potential, its condition assessment is currently listed as "Not Rated", with a moderate risk level identified. Emergency action plans are in place for the dam, meeting established guidelines, and regular inspections are conducted to monitor its performance and address any potential risks.
Overall, Mcgregor Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and regulating water flow along the Chazy River in Clinton County, New York. With its significant storage capacity and controlled spillway, the dam serves as a vital structure in the region, managed diligently by state authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of local residents and visitors alike.
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 Mcgregor Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little Chazy River Near Chazy Ny | 68 cfs | → |
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,240 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 46 cfs | → |
| Little Ausable River Near Valcour Ny | 48 cfs | → |
| Missisquoi River At Swanton | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Ausable River Near Au Sable Forks Ny | 695 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mcgregor Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Chazy Lake
- Point Au Roche State Boat Launch Clinton County
- Green Street 32, Plattsburgh
- Upper Chateaugay Lake
- Green Street Plattsburgh
- Access Road Isle La Motte
Track Mcgregor 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 Mcgregor Dam
Where does the data for Mcgregor 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 Mcgregor Dam.