Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls dam
Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls
Lock E-17 Dam at Little Falls, situated on the Mohawk River in Herkimer County, New York, stands as a significant hydroelectric structure completed in 1982. Owned and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. With a height of 60 feet and a controlled spillway width of 50 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 7,100 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 25 acres.
The dam's primary purpose is hydroelectric power generation, contributing to the renewable energy industry in the area. Despite its "Significant" hazard potential, the dam's condition is currently not rated, and it undergoes inspections every four years to ensure its structural integrity and continued safe operation. With a very high risk assessment rating, the emergency action plan for Lock E-17 Dam was last revised in 2011, emphasizing the importance of preparedness and risk management measures in the face of potential emergencies.
Lock E-17 Dam at Little Falls symbolizes the intersection of water resource management, renewable energy production, and environmental stewardship in New York State. As a key player in the region's hydroelectric infrastructure, this dam serves as a testament to the importance of balancing energy needs with ecological conservation efforts. Its regulated status and strategic location underscore its critical role in maintaining water quality, flood control, and sustainable resource utilization in the Mohawk River watershed.
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 Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mohawk River Near Little Falls Ny | 1,750 cfs | → |
| East Canada Creek At East Creek Ny | 29 cfs | → |
| West Canada Creek At Kast Bridge Ny | 961 cfs | → |
| Steele Cr At Ilion Ny | 25 cfs | → |
| Otsquago Creek At Fort Plain Ny | 9 cfs | → |
| Canajoharie Creek Nr Canajoharie Ny | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- St. Johnsville Campsite And Marina
- Glimmerglass State Park
- Caroga Lake - Dec
- Rock Lake Tentsite
- Canary Pond Tentsite
- Silver Lake Tentsite
Track Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls 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 Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls
Where does the data for Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls 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 Lock E-17 Dam At Little Falls.