Penfield Pond Dam dam
Penfield Pond Dam
Penfield Pond Dam, located in Ironville, Essex County, New York, is a privately owned earth dam completed in 1980 with a primary purpose of fire protection, stock, and recreation. The dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a length of 240 feet, with a storage capacity of 1100 acre-feet. It is situated along Putnam Creek, with a drainage area of 28.9 square miles, serving as a vital water resource for the area.
Despite its essential role in fire protection and recreational activities, Penfield Pond Dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment. The dam's spillway, which is uncontrolled and 108 feet wide, poses a risk of overflow during high water events. The last inspection in August 2019 revealed the need for maintenance and improvements to ensure the dam's safety and functionality.
With a moderate risk assessment rating, Penfield Pond Dam requires risk management measures to address its current condition and potential hazards. It is under the regulation of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which oversees permitting, inspections, and enforcement activities. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the dam represents a critical infrastructure that requires attention and investment to safeguard both the environment and local communities.
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 Penfield Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Putnam Creek East Of Crown Point Center Ny | 373 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Middlebury | 874 cfs | → |
| New Haven River At Brooksville Nr Middlebury | 196 cfs | → |
| Poultney River Below Fair Haven | 311 cfs | → |
| Little Otter Creek At Ferrisburg | 45 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At North Creek Ny | 2,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Penfield Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Rock Pond Trail Essex County
- Lachuteriver Walk Interpretive Trail Ticonderoga
- Mossy Point Boat Launch
- Bulwagga Drive Port Henry
- Ticonderoga Boat Launch
- State Route 74 Shoreham
Fishing spots
- Black Pond Access Point
- Lefferts Pond Area
- Combination Pond
- Heinburg Bridge Fishing Access Pier
- Moses Pond
Track Penfield 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 Penfield Pond Dam
Where does the data for Penfield 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 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 Penfield Pond Dam.