Jamesville Reservoir Dam
Jamesville Reservoir Dam is a concrete dam located in Onondaga County, New York, built in 1874. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Jamesville Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Jamesville Reservoir Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by New York State Canal Corporation (state). It impounds the Butternut Creek near Jamesville.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 446 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 252 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,250 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 46 square miles. Completed in 1874, 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 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 06/03/2024.
At 53 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Onondaga |
| Nearest City | Jamesville |
| River/Stream | Butternut Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.98250, -76.07000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 446 ft |
| Year Completed | 1874 (152 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,250 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,250 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 252 acres |
| Drainage Area | 46 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,070 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | New York State Canal Corporation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00418 |
| Federal ID | NY00418 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |