Otter Lake Dam dam
Otter Lake Dam
Otter Lake Dam, located in Woodgate, New York, was completed in 1880 and serves as a vital recreational resource for the area. With a height of 8 feet and a length of 127 feet, the dam creates a surface area of 135 acres and a storage capacity of 358 acre-feet. The primary purpose of the dam is for recreation, providing opportunities for boating, fishing, and other water-based activities along the Otter Lake Outlet.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), the dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is considered to have high risk due to its age and condition assessment being marked as "Not Rated." The dam does not have a spillway, but its risk management measures and emergency action plan readiness are not specified in the data, leaving questions about the overall preparedness in case of a potential emergency.
In recent years, Otter Lake Dam has not undergone significant modifications or improvements, and its risk profile remains a concern for water resource and climate enthusiasts. With the potential for increased extreme weather events and changing climate patterns, the importance of maintaining and updating infrastructure like the Otter Lake Dam becomes even more critical to ensure the safety and well-being of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Otter Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River Near Boonville Ny | 2,090 cfs | → |
| Independence River At Donnattsburg Ny | 706 cfs | → |
| West Canada Creek Near Wilmurt Ny | 2,850 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek Near Inlet Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Buck Creek | 1 cfs | → |
| Beaver River At Croghan Ny | 965 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Otter Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Black River
- Twichell Lake
- Stillwater Reservoir
- Seventh Lake
- Soft Maple Reservoir
- Delta Lake State Park Town Of Western
Campgrounds
- Nicks Lake - Dec
- Pixley Falls State Park
- Whetstone Gulf State Park
- Limekiln Lake - Dec
- Nys Designated Tent Site
- Eighth Lake - Dec
Track Otter Lake 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 Otter Lake Dam
Where does the data for Otter Lake 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 Low 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 Otter Lake Dam.