White Birch Pond Dam dam
White Birch Pond Dam
White Birch Pond Dam, located in Albany, New York, is a state-owned masonry dam with a primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond. The dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a length of 101 feet, with a storage capacity of 135 acre-feet and a drainage area of 3.1 square miles. The dam is classified as having a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment level, making it a crucial structure for managing water resources in the area.
Managed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC), White Birch Pond Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam controls the flow of a tributary to Switz Kill, with an uncontrolled spillway type and a maximum discharge capacity of 2364 cubic feet per second. While the dam's condition is currently rated as "not rated," it plays a vital role in supporting the local ecosystem and providing recreational opportunities for fish and wildlife enthusiasts.
With its strategic location and essential role in water management, White Birch Pond Dam serves as a key structure in maintaining the ecological balance and water resources of the Albany region. As a state-regulated facility, the dam's maintenance and operation are closely monitored to mitigate potential risks and ensure its long-term sustainability. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, White Birch Pond Dam represents a significant landmark in the conservation and protection of natural habitats and water ecosystems in New York State.
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 White Birch Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Schoharie Creek At Breakabeen Ny | 77 cfs | → |
| Schoharie Creek At Burtonsville Ny | 242 cfs | → |
| Schoharie Creek At North Blenheim Ny | 27 cfs | → |
| Normans Kill At Albany Ny | 50 cfs | → |
| Platter Kill At Gilboa Ny | 6 cfs | → |
| Manor Kill At West Conesville Near Gilboa Ny | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near White Birch Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Schoharie Creek Parking Fishing Access
- Mine Kill State Park Road Town Of Blenheim
- Lyons Road 171, Town Of Bethlehem
- Alco Heritage Trail Schenectady
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Albany
- Mohawk-Hudson Bike-Hike Trail Niskayuna
Campgrounds
- Thompsons Lake Campground
- Thompsons Lake State Park
- Max V Shaul State Park
- Mallet Pond
- North/South Lake - Dec
- Devils Tombstone - Dec
Track White Birch Pond 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 White Birch Pond Dam
Where does the data for White Birch Pond 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 White Birch Pond Dam.