Arling Saunders Pond Dam dam
Arling Saunders Pond Dam
Arling Saunders Pond Dam, also known as Saunders Pond, is a private dam located in Allegany County, New York. Built in 1954, this earth dam stands at a height of 13 feet and has a length of 266 feet. With a storage capacity of 99 acre-feet, the dam serves a variety of purposes including recreation and water resource management. Situated along the TR-N Branch Plumbottom Creek, this dam is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
The dam's hazard potential is considered significant, with a high risk assessment rating due to its condition being labeled as "Not Rated." Despite this, the dam lacks a spillway, and its emergency action plan (EAP) is not currently prepared or up to date, posing potential risks in the event of a dam failure. The dam's location in Belmont, New York, and its proximity to the Buffalo District of the US Army Corps of Engineers highlight the importance of proper risk management and maintenance of this critical infrastructure to protect both the surrounding community and the water resources it serves.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Arling Saunders Pond Dam presents an intriguing case study in dam management and risk assessment. With its unique design and historical significance, this dam serves as a focal point for understanding the complexities of balancing water storage, recreation, and safety considerations in a changing climate. As efforts continue to improve the dam's emergency preparedness and overall condition assessment, it underscores the importance of proactive measures to safeguard our water resources and infrastructure for future generations.
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 Arling Saunders Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Genesee River At Wellsville Ny | 547 cfs | → |
| Canacadea Creek Near Hornell Ny | 175 cfs | → |
| Canisteo R Below Canacadea Cr @ Hornell Ny | 379 cfs | → |
| Canisteo River At Arkport Ny | 43 cfs | → |
| Oswayo Creek At Shinglehouse | 145 cfs | → |
| Genesee River At Portageville Ny | 2,260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Arling Saunders Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- County Road 16 Allegany County
- Allen Lake
- Four Mile Road Alma
- Finger Lakes / North Country Trail Steuben County
- Harwood Lake
Track Arling Saunders Pond 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 Arling Saunders Pond Dam
Where does the data for Arling Saunders Pond 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 Arling Saunders Pond Dam.