South Lake Dam (Lower) dam
South Lake Dam (Lower)
South Lake Dam (Lower) in Ludingtonville, Putnam County, New York, is a local government-owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1921, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet with a length of 290 feet, providing a storage capacity of 35 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the TR-STUMP POND STREAM and has a surface area of 6 acres, serving a drainage area of 1 square mile.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, South Lake Dam (Lower) poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment. The dam's last inspection in November 2020 revealed its poor state, prompting a risk assessment rating of moderate (3). The dam's spillway is uncontrolled with a width of 3 feet, raising concerns about its ability to manage flood events effectively.
With the State of New York's regulatory oversight, including permitting, inspection, and enforcement, efforts are being made to address the dam's condition and ensure public safety. Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intersection of infrastructure and environmental management may find South Lake Dam (Lower) to be a compelling case study on the importance of maintaining and managing dams for both recreational and safety purposes in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Lake Dam (Lower) -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Horse Pound Brook Near Lake Carmel Ny | 2 cfs | → |
| West Branch Croton River At Richardsville Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| W Br Croton River Below Dam Near Kent Cliffs Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| West Branch Croton River Near Carmel Ny | 10 cfs | → |
| East Branch Croton River Near Putnam Lake Ny | 27 cfs | → |
| East Branch Croton River At Brewster Ny | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Lake Dam (Lower).
Boat launches
- Squantz Pond
- Old Bogus Road 4, New Fairfield
- Spring Street 51, Wappingers Falls
- Market Street 114, Wappingers Falls
- Lake Kenosia
- Danbury Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Clarence Fahnestock State Park
- Mountain Lakes Park
- Camping For Hikers On Ballfield Graymoor Center
- Schaghticoke Mountain Camping Area
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Round Pond Military
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
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
Track South Lake Dam (Lower) 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 Lake Dam (Lower)
Where does the data for South Lake Dam (Lower) 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 Lake Dam (Lower).