Colonie Dam
Colonie Dam is an earth dam located in Saratoga County, New York, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Colonie Dam
The primary purpose of Colonie 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 Latham Water District (public utility). It impounds the Stony Creek near Vischer Ferry.
The dam stands 57 feet tall and stretches 926 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 295 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1954, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/05/2024.
At 57 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Saratoga |
| Nearest City | Vischer Ferry |
| River/Stream | Stony Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.80639, -73.81750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Height | 57 ft |
| Dam Length | 926 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 5,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 295 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | LATHAM WATER DISTRICT |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00204 |
| Federal ID | NY00204 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |