Burden Lake Dam
Burden Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rensselaer County, New York, built in 1916. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Burden Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Burden Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Burden Lake Preservation Corporation;daniel L. Alger;mr. Joseph And Mrs. Liane Densmore;rensselaer County (private). It impounds the Tr-wynantskill near West Sand Lake.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 365 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 369 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 01/04/2023.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Rensselaer |
| Nearest City | West Sand Lake |
| River/Stream | Tr-wynantskill |
| Coordinates | 42.62406, -73.56653 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 365 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,598 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 369 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Burden Lake Preservation Corporation;Daniel L. Alger;Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Liane Densmore;RENSSELAER COUNTY |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/04/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00275 |
| Federal ID | NY00275 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |