Cranberry Lake Dam
Cranberry Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in St. Lawrence County, New York, built in 1917. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cranberry Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Cranberry Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Oswegatchie River-cranberry Reservoir Reg Dist Crp (local government). It impounds the Oswegatchie River.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,973 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 57,400 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 136 square miles. Completed in 1917, 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 09/12/2024.
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 | St. Lawrence |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Oswegatchie River |
| Coordinates | 44.22071, -74.84795 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1917 (109 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 57,400 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 57,400 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42,334 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,973 acres |
| Drainage Area | 136 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,220 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | OSWEGATCHIE RIVER-CRANBERRY RESERVOIR REG DIST CRP |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00397 |
| Federal ID | NY00397 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |