Waldens Pond Dam dam
Waldens Pond Dam
Waldens Pond Dam in Karlsfeld, New York, serves as a crucial flood risk reduction structure along the TR-BLACKHOUSE CREEK. Completed in 1991, this earth dam stands at 26 feet tall and spans a length of 1050 feet, with a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose of flood risk reduction, the dam also offers recreational opportunities in the area.
Owned and regulated by the NYS DEC, Waldens Pond Dam is subject to regular inspections, with the most recent assessment in April 2019 indicating a poor condition. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, highlighting the need for ongoing risk management measures. With a controlled spillway and an uncontrolled spillway width of 59 feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area.
Located in Albany County, Waldens Pond Dam is monitored for its structural integrity and overall performance to ensure it continues to effectively reduce flood risks and safeguard the environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this dam represents a key infrastructure piece in the region's water management system, providing both practical flood protection and recreational opportunities for the community.
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 Waldens Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 11,500 cfs | → |
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 3,010 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 4,160 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waldens Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- Forbes Road Rensselaer
- Erie Canal Towpath Town Of Clifton Park
- Lock 7 Boat Launch
- Forts Ferry Road 246, Town Of Colonie
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Max V Shaul State Park
Track Waldens 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 Waldens Pond Dam
Where does the data for Waldens 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 Waldens Pond Dam.