Upper Beaver Falls
Upper Beaver Falls is a concrete dam located in Lewis County, New York, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Upper Beaver Falls
The primary purpose of Upper Beaver Falls is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Algonquin Power (beaver Falls), Llc (private). It impounds the Beaver River near Beaver Falls.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 328 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 324 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 06/16/2022.
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 | Lewis |
| Nearest City | Beaver Falls |
| River/Stream | Beaver River |
| Coordinates | 43.88350, -75.42840 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 328 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 324 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Algonquin Power (Beaver Falls), LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/16/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00300 |
| Federal ID | NY00300 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |