Woodlands Lake Dam dam
Woodlands Lake Dam
Woodlands Lake Dam, located in Ardsley, New York, is a masonry structure built in 1840 with a primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 20 feet and stretching 200 feet in length, this dam serves as a key feature for the Woodlands Lake area. The dam has a storage capacity of 87 acre-feet and a surface area of 13 acres, making it a significant water resource for the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the NYS DEC, Woodlands Lake Dam has a spillway width of 105 feet and is classified as having a significant hazard potential. Despite not being rated for its condition assessment, the dam undergoes inspections every 4 years with the last one conducted in May 2018. With a moderate risk assessment score of 3, the dam is closely monitored for any potential risks and emergency preparedness.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Woodlands Lake Dam presents an interesting case study of a historic masonry dam that continues to provide recreational opportunities while also highlighting the importance of regular inspections and risk management measures. As one of the key structures along the Saw Mill River, this dam plays a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the Westchester County area.
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 Woodlands Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hackensack River At Rivervale Nj | 32 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Pascack Brook At Westwood Nj | 31 cfs | → |
| Pascack Brook At Park Ridge Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At New Milford Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Saddle River At Ridgewood Nj | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Woodlands Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Warburton Avenue 565, Hastings-On-Hudson
- Maple Way 10, Town Of North Castle
- Croton Riverwalk Croton-On-Hudson
- Seagate Road 3, Greenwich
- Cortlandt Street Cortlandt
- Riverside Avenue Little Ferry
Campgrounds
- Croton Point Park
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
Fishing spots
Track Woodlands 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 Woodlands Lake Dam
Where does the data for Woodlands 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 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 Woodlands Lake Dam.