Yankee Lake Dam
Yankee Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Sullivan County, New York, built in 1844. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Yankee Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Yankee Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Yankee Lake Preservation Association (private). It impounds the Pine Kill near Culvertown.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 415 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 7,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1844, 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 09/16/2024.
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 | Sullivan |
| Nearest City | Culvertown |
| River/Stream | Pine Kill |
| Coordinates | 41.57944, -74.56083 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1844 (182 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 7,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 415 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | YANKEE LAKE PRESERVATION ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00332 |
| Federal ID | NY00332 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |