South Westchester Detention Basin Dam dam
South Westchester Detention Basin Dam
South Westchester Detention Basin Dam, located in Yonkers, New York, was completed in 1978 with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the TR-Hudson River. This private dam stands at 7 feet tall and stretches 110 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 11 acre-feet. Despite its important role in mitigating flood risks in the area, the dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition and poses a significant hazard potential.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the South Westchester Detention Basin Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement. With a drainage area of 0.2 square miles and a maximum discharge capacity of 433 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding community from potential flooding events. However, its poor condition and significant hazard potential highlight the need for urgent maintenance and risk management measures to ensure the safety and resilience of the structure.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is vital to recognize the importance of maintaining and enhancing infrastructure like the South Westchester Detention Basin Dam to adapt to the changing climate and protect communities from the increasing risks of flooding. By addressing the poor condition of the dam and implementing effective risk management measures, we can ensure the safety and sustainability of water resources in the region for years to come.
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 South Westchester Detention Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hackensack River At Rivervale Nj | 32 cfs | → |
| Pascack Brook At Westwood Nj | 31 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At New Milford Nj | 12 cfs | → |
| Pascack Brook At Park Ridge Nj | 7 cfs | → |
| Hackensack River At West Nyack Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Saddle River At Ridgewood Nj | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Westchester Detention Basin Dam.
Boat launches
- Warburton Avenue 565, Hastings-On-Hudson
- Riverside Avenue Little Ferry
- Park Crescent 345, Queens
- Veterans Court Passaic
- Secaucus Greenway Secaucus
- River Barge Park
Campgrounds
- Croton Point Park
- Beaver Pond - Harriman State Park
- Beaver Pond Campsite
- Blue Mountain Reservation
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Wiley Post A
Fishing spots
Track South Westchester Detention Basin 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 South Westchester Detention Basin Dam
Where does the data for South Westchester Detention Basin 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 South Westchester Detention Basin Dam.