Howlands Lake Dam dam
Howlands Lake Dam
Howlands Lake Dam, located in Mt Kisco, New York, is a stone dam built in 1895 primarily for recreational purposes. The dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a length of 67 feet, with a storage capacity of 184 acre-feet and a surface area of 26 acres. It is situated along the Kisco River and is regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Despite its historical significance, Howlands Lake Dam is currently in poor condition and has a significant hazard potential, with a very high risk assessment rating. The dam underwent its last inspection in June 2018, with a frequency of every 3 years, revealing the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures. With a controlled spillway and a maximum discharge capacity of 50 cubic feet per second, the dam's emergency action plan and risk management strategies are crucial to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the environment.
As a water resource and climate enthusiast, the deteriorating condition of Howlands Lake Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and risk management for aging infrastructure. With its unique design and historical significance, efforts must be made to address its poor condition and implement necessary measures to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the long-term sustainability of this recreational structure along the Kisco River.
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 Howlands Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Cross River At Katonah Ny | 19 cfs | → |
| Muscoot River Below Dam At Amawalk Ny | 12 cfs | → |
| Cross River Near Cross River Ny | 9 cfs | → |
| Croton R @ New Croton Dam Nr Croton-On-Hudson Ny | 272 cfs | → |
| Titicus River At Purdys Station Ny | 14 cfs | → |
| Fivemile River Near New Canaan | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Howlands Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Maple Way 10, Town Of North Castle
- Croton Riverwalk Croton-On-Hudson
- Cortlandt Street Cortlandt
- Hudson Avenue Peekskill
- Broadway Buchanan
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
Campgrounds
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Croton Point Park
- Mountain Lakes Park
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Beaver Pond Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
Track Howlands 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 Howlands Lake Dam
Where does the data for Howlands 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 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 Howlands Lake Dam.