Oquaga Creek State Park Dam
Oquaga Creek State Park Dam is an earth dam located in Broome County, New York, built in 1976. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Oquaga Creek State Park Dam
The primary purpose of Oquaga Creek State Park 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 Central New York (state). It impounds the Oquaga Creek near North Sanford.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 66 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,601 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1976, the structure is 50 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 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 12/13/2024.
At 54 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 | Broome |
| Nearest City | North Sanford |
| River/Stream | Oquaga Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.17669, -75.42836 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1976 (50 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,601 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,601 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 727 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 66 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NYS PARKS & RECREATION CENTRAL NEW YORK |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00783 |
| Federal ID | NY00783 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |