Valencia Lane Dam dam
Valencia Lane Dam
Valencia Lane Dam, located in Vischer Ferry, New York, is a recreational dam completed in 1964 with a primary purpose of providing leisure activities for water and climate enthusiasts. Standing at 15 feet in height and spanning 325 feet in length, the dam offers a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 40 acre-feet. Situated on the Stony Creek, this earth dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 6 feet, ensuring controlled water release during times of high flow.
Owned and regulated by the local government, Valencia Lane Dam is under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. With a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, this dam has not been officially rated for its condition, but it has undergone inspections and is permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. Despite its recreational nature, the dam serves an important role in managing water resources in the Saratoga County region.
In terms of emergency preparedness, Valencia Lane Dam does not have an emergency action plan (EAP) in place, but it meets regulatory guidelines and has updated emergency contacts. With the risk of moderate potential, the dam's management measures are not specified, highlighting the need for continued monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the effectiveness of the dam in water resource management.
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 Valencia Lane Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mohawk River At Cohoes Ny | 2,240 cfs | → |
| Hudson R Above Lock 1 Nr Waterford Ny | 7,760 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Green Island Ny | 14,100 cfs | → |
| Glowegee Creek At West Milton Ny | 13 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valencia Lane Dam.
Boat launches
- Lock 7 Boat Launch
- Erie Canal Towpath Town Of Clifton Park
- Clamsteam Road Boat Launch
- Forts Ferry Road 246, Town Of Colonie
- North Schermerhorn Road 22, City Of Cohoes
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Cherry Plain State Park
- Cherry Plain State Park Campgrounds
- Rustic Barn Campground
- Moreau Lake State Park
Track Valencia Lane 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 Valencia Lane Dam
Where does the data for Valencia Lane 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 Valencia Lane Dam.