Mead Reservoir Dam
Mead Reservoir Dam is a concrete dam located in Clinton County, New York, built in 1922. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Mead Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Mead Reservoir 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 Plattsburgh (local government). It impounds the Mead Brook near West Plattsburgh.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 615 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 74 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,680 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1922, 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 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 05/16/2024.
At 60 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 | Clinton |
| Nearest City | West Plattsburgh |
| River/Stream | Mead Brook |
| Coordinates | 44.72278, -73.58083 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 615 ft |
| Year Completed | 1922 (104 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,680 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,680 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 74 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,827 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF PLATTSBURGH |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00237 |
| Federal ID | NY00237 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |