Martin Dunham Reservoir Dam

About Martin Dunham Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Martin Dunham Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (state). It impounds the Quacken Kill near Quackenkill.

The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 660 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 91 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1913, 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 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 01/05/2024.

At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.

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.

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