Bear Gulch Pond Dam dam
Bear Gulch Pond Dam
Bear Gulch Pond Dam, located in Richmondville, New York, is a recreational earth dam completed in 1910 with a height of 18 feet and a length of 315 feet. The dam serves the primary purpose of recreation, providing a surface area of 46 acres for activities such as fishing and boating. With a storage capacity of 391 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.74 square miles, Bear Gulch Pond Dam also acts as a crucial water resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Bear Gulch Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The dam is regulated by the NYS DEC and undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment conducted in October 2020. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 100 feet, and a maximum discharge capacity of 436 cubic feet per second.
In light of its moderate risk level and high hazard potential, Bear Gulch Pond Dam requires urgent attention to address its poor condition and ensure the safety of the surrounding area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts should closely monitor the dam's maintenance and risk management measures to prevent any potential disasters and preserve this important recreational and water storage facility in Schoharie, New York.
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 Bear Gulch Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schoharie Creek At Breakabeen Ny | 84 cfs | → |
| Schoharie Creek At North Blenheim Ny | 28 cfs | → |
| Mine Kill Near North Blenheim Ny | 12 cfs | → |
| Platter Kill At Gilboa Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Schoharie Creek At Gilboa Ny | 11 cfs | → |
| West Branch Delaware River At Hobart Ny | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bear Gulch Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Mine Kill State Park Road Town Of Blenheim
- Schoharie Creek Parking Fishing Access
- Susquehanna River
- Mohawk River
- Dufel Road Town Of Glen
Track Bear Gulch 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 Bear Gulch Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bear Gulch 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 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 Bear Gulch Pond Dam.