Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam
Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, New York, built in 1978. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam
The primary purpose of Higinbotham Brook Watershed Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Oneida (local government). It impounds the Higinbotham Brook near Oneida.
The dam stands 53 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 176 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1978, the structure is 48 years 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 09/22/2023.
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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | Oneida |
| River/Stream | Higinbotham Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.07722, -75.65739 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Height | 53 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1978 (48 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 176 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 176 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 73 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,141 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF ONEIDA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/22/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00703 |
| Federal ID | NY00703 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |