Pelto Dam dam
Pelto Dam
Pelto Dam, located in Spencer, New York, is a crucial structure designed by USDA NRCS to mitigate flood risks along the Burheight Creek. Completed in 1955, this earth dam stands at a height of 39 feet and spans a length of 350 feet, with a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. Despite its importance in flood risk reduction, Pelto Dam is currently rated as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, raising concerns about its ability to withstand extreme weather events.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, Pelto Dam is subject to regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure public safety. The dam's spillway, with a width of 54 feet, is of the uncontrolled type, capable of discharging up to 2030 cubic feet per second. With a drainage area of 0.42 square miles, Pelto Dam plays a critical role in protecting the surrounding community from potential flooding, highlighting the need for ongoing maintenance and risk management measures to address its current condition.
Despite its age and condition assessment, Pelto Dam continues to serve its primary purpose of flood risk reduction in Tioga County. The dam's moderate risk level and the need for improvement underscore the importance of proactive measures to enhance its resilience in the face of changing climate patterns. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, monitoring and advocating for the upkeep of vital infrastructure like Pelto Dam is essential to ensure the safety and well-being of local communities in the region.
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 Pelto Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sixmile Creek At Brooktondale Ny | 83 cfs | → |
| Sixmile Creek At Bethel Grove | 21 cfs | → |
| Fall Creek Near Ithaca Ny | 98 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Owego Ny | 3,590 cfs | → |
| Chemung River At Chemung Ny | 1,650 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River Near Waverly Ny | 4,320 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pelto Dam.
Boat launches
- Cayuta Lake Boat Launch
- Sayre
- Chemung River
- Riverfront
- Hickories Park Parking Lot/Drive Town Of Owego
- Marshland Road Town Of Owego
Track Pelto 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 Pelto Dam
Where does the data for Pelto 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 Pelto Dam.