Steer Pond Dam dam
Steer Pond Dam
Steer Pond Dam, located in Chenango, New York, is a privately owned structure primarily used for recreation. This earth dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a length of 150 feet, with a storage capacity of 260 acre-feet. Situated on the Millbrook river, the dam has a spillway width of 25 feet and a maximum discharge of 50 cubic feet per second. Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the dam's condition has not been rated since its last inspection in May 1997.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Steer Pond Dam presents a moderate risk level (3) due to its outdated inspection records and lack of updated emergency action plans. With no associated structures or outlet gates, the dam remains a focal point for recreational activities in the area, offering a surface area of 45 acres for visitors to enjoy. While the risk management measures for the dam are currently unspecified, its overall risk assessment suggests a need for further monitoring and maintenance to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
Although the dam's condition assessment is marked as "Not Rated," its designation as a state-regulated and permitted structure underscores the importance of ongoing monitoring and enforcement by the NYS DEC. With its picturesque location and potential for outdoor recreation, Steer Pond Dam serves as a valuable asset to the local community while also highlighting the critical role of proper dam maintenance in safeguarding water resources and mitigating climate-related risks 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 Steer Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otselic River At Cincinnatus Ny | 97 cfs | → |
| Chenango River At Sherburne Ny | 238 cfs | → |
| Chenango River At Greene Ny | 540 cfs | → |
| Unadilla River At Rockdale Ny | 414 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Bainbridge Ny | 1,430 cfs | → |
| Susquehanna River At Unadilla Ny | 826 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Steer Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Balsam Pond
- County Highway 32b Town Of Norwich
- Long Pond
- Papish Pond
- Old State Highway 7 108, Bainbridge
- Lebanon Reservoir
Track Steer 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 Steer Pond Dam
Where does the data for Steer 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 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 Steer Pond Dam.