Melzingah Dam
Melzingah Dam is a concrete dam located in Dutchess County, New York, built in 1924. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Melzingah Dam
The primary purpose of Melzingah Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Beacon (local government). It impounds the Gordons Brook near Dutchess Junction.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 218 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1924, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/28/2023.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The New York dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Dutchess |
| Nearest City | Dutchess Junction |
| River/Stream | Gordons Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.47194, -73.96889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 218 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 218 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 178 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 447 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF BEACON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/28/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00032 |
| Federal ID | NY00032 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |