Oquaga Creek State Park Dam dam
Oquaga Creek State Park Dam
The Oquaga Creek State Park Dam, located in North Sanford, New York, is a state-owned earth dam constructed in 1976 for recreational purposes. Standing at a height of 54 feet and stretching 370 feet in length, this dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 1,601 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 727 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Oquaga Creek and is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.
Despite its recreational benefits, the Oquaga Creek State Park Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its deteriorating condition, with a poor assessment reported in 2008. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last one taking place in May 2020, and a risk assessment categorizing the dam's risk as moderate. Emergency action plans are in place, although it is unclear if they meet current guidelines. The dam's spillway, an uncontrolled type with a width of 85 feet, helps manage excess water flow during peak periods.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Oquaga Creek State Park Dam offers a fascinating case study of the intersection between infrastructure, recreation, and environmental conservation. As efforts are made to address the dam's deteriorating condition and mitigate potential risks, it serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and regulating our water resources to ensure the safety and sustainability of our communities in the face of changing climatic 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 Oquaga Creek State Park Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Br Delaware River At Stilesville Ny | 452 cfs | → |
| Trout Creek Near Trout Creek Ny | 24 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Bainbridge Ny | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Unadilla Ny | 826 cfs | → |
| West Branch Delaware River At Hale Eddy Ny | 601 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Windsor Ny | 1,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Oquaga Creek State Park Dam.
Boat launches
- Susquehanna River
- Old State Highway 7 108, Bainbridge
- West Branch Delaware River
- Colesville Town
- Balls Eddy-Temporarily Closed
Track Oquaga Creek State Park 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 Oquaga Creek State Park Dam
Where does the data for Oquaga Creek State Park 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 Oquaga Creek State Park Dam.