Campfire Lake Dam dam
Campfire Lake Dam
Campfire Lake Dam, located in Briarcliff Manor, New York, is a privately owned structure that has been serving as a recreational spot since its completion in 1920. The dam stands at a height of 14 feet and spans 135 feet in length, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet. Situated on the TR-POCANTICO RIVER, the dam's primary purpose is recreation, offering a serene getaway for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Maintained and regulated by the NYS DEC, Campfire Lake Dam has a controlled spillway with a width of 5 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 15 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam has a significant hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating, indicating the need for regular inspections and safety measures. While the dam's condition is currently not rated, efforts to ensure its structural integrity and emergency preparedness are ongoing, with a comprehensive Emergency Action Plan in place since April 2013.
For those interested in exploring the intersection of water resources and climate impact on infrastructure, Campfire Lake Dam offers a fascinating case study in dam management and risk assessment. With its historical significance, recreational value, and environmental considerations, this New York landmark embodies the delicate balance between human enjoyment and natural resource conservation in a changing climate.
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 Campfire Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Croton R @ New Croton Dam Nr Croton-On-Hudson Ny | 322 cfs | → |
| Muscoot River Below Dam At Amawalk Ny | 16 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny | 11 cfs | → |
| Cross River At Katonah Ny | 20 cfs | → |
| Muscoot River At Baldwin Place Ny | 8 cfs | → |
| Cross River Near Cross River Ny | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Campfire Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Croton Riverwalk Croton-On-Hudson
- Maple Way 10, Town Of North Castle
- Cortlandt Street Cortlandt
- Battlefield Road Town Of Stony Point
- Broadway Buchanan
- Hudson Avenue Peekskill
Campgrounds
- Croton Point Park
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
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
Track Campfire 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 Campfire Lake Dam
Where does the data for Campfire 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 Campfire Lake Dam.