Whaley Lake Dam
Whaley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Dutchess County, New York, built in 1850. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Whaley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Whaley Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Pawling (local government). It impounds the Whaley Lake Stream near West Pawling.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 330 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 259 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,854 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 03/22/2023.
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 | West Pawling |
| River/Stream | Whaley Lake Stream |
| Coordinates | 41.57158, -73.65772 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 330 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,854 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,854 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,559 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 259 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF PAWLING |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00270 |
| Federal ID | NY00270 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |