Lake Uncas Dam dam
Lake Uncas Dam
Lake Uncas Dam, located in Grooville, Sullivan County, New York, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1940 for recreational purposes. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 240 feet, the dam creates a reservoir with a storage capacity of 184 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the TR-SPRAGUE BROOK, and its primary purpose is to support recreational activities in the area.
Despite being categorized as having low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been rated, and its last inspection took place in June 2009. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 55 cubic feet per second. The risk assessment for Lake Uncas Dam is rated as moderate (3), indicating a level of risk management measures that may need to be implemented to ensure its continued safety and integrity.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Uncas Dam represents an interesting case study in private dam ownership and management for recreational purposes. As the dam is regulated by the NYS DEC and subject to state permitting, inspection, and enforcement, it serves as a valuable example of how private entities can contribute to water resource management while ensuring public safety and environmental protection. The dam's location in a picturesque setting with a surface area of 32 acres adds to its significance as a vital water resource in the region.
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 Lake Uncas Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neversink River Near Claryville Ny | 106 cfs | → |
| West Branch Neversink R At Claryville | 47 cfs | → |
| Beaver Kill At Cooks Falls Ny | 409 cfs | → |
| Mill Brook Near Dunraven Ny | 40 cfs | → |
| Neversink River At Neversink Ny | 108 cfs | → |
| Tremper Kill Near Andes Ny | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Uncas Dam.
Boat launches
- Nyc 4 Road Town Of Andes
- Bureau Of Water Supply Road 3 Town Of Andes
- State Highway 55a Town Of Wawarsing
- Delaware River
- Callicoon
- Damascus
Track Lake Uncas 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 Lake Uncas Dam
Where does the data for Lake Uncas 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 Lake Uncas Dam.