Deruyter Dam
Deruyter Dam is an earth dam located in Onondaga County, New York, built in 1863. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Deruyter Dam
The primary purpose of Deruyter 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 Limestone Creek near Hamlet Of Gooseville.
The dam stands 68 feet tall and stretches 1,600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1863, 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 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 06/03/2024.
At 68 feet, this dam is taller than 96% 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 | Onondaga |
| Nearest City | Hamlet Of Gooseville |
| River/Stream | Limestone Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.82709, -75.90017 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Height | 68 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1863 (163 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 11,890 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 769 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | New York State Canal Corporation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/03/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00774 |
| Federal ID | NY00774 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |