Hessian Lake Dam dam
Hessian Lake Dam
Hessian Lake Dam, located in Orange County, New York, is a state-regulated earth dam primarily used for recreational purposes. With a height of 9 feet and a storage capacity of 215 acre-feet, this dam serves to create a 45-acre lake for public enjoyment. Situated along the TR-Hudson River, this dam is owned and regulated by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC).
Despite its low hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, Hessian Lake Dam has not been rated for its condition. The last inspection was conducted in 2002, and the dam has not undergone any modifications or enhancements since then. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and is equipped with emergency action plans, although the details of these plans have not been updated or reviewed in recent years.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Hessian Lake Dam an intriguing site for its unique design and ecological significance. As a vital part of the local landscape, this dam provides not only recreational opportunities but also serves as a critical infrastructure for water management in the region. With its rich history and potential for future enhancements, Hessian Lake Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human engineering and environmental stewardship.
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 Hessian Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Croton R @ New Croton Dam Nr Croton-On-Hudson Ny | 272 cfs | → |
| Muscoot River At Baldwin Place Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Muscoot River Below Dam At Amawalk Ny | 12 cfs | → |
| Mahwah River Near Suffern Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Ramapo River At Ramapo Ny | 60 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hessian Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bear Mountain Bridge Road Cortlandt
- Hudson Avenue Peekskill
- Broadway Buchanan
- Battlefield Road Town Of Stony Point
- Cortlandt Street Cortlandt
- Croton Riverwalk Croton-On-Hudson
Campgrounds
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Round Pond Military
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Croton Point Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
Track Hessian Lake 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 Hessian Lake Dam
Where does the data for Hessian Lake 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 Hessian Lake Dam.