Fredonia Reservoir Dam
Fredonia Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Chautauqua County, New York, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Fredonia Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Fredonia Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Village Of Fredonia (local government). It impounds the Canadaway Creek near Laona.
The dam stands 80 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,733 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/11/2023.
At 80 feet, this dam is taller than 97% 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Chautauqua |
| Nearest City | Laona |
| River/Stream | Canadaway Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.39733, -79.31081 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Height | 80 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,733 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,733 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,024 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,292 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF FREDONIA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/11/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00749 |
| Federal ID | NY00749 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |