Furnace Brook Lake Dam
Furnace Brook Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Westchester County, New York, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Furnace Brook Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Furnace Brook Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Cortlandt (local government). It impounds the Furnace Brook near Chimney Corners.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 430 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 285 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 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 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 01/02/2025.
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 | Westchester |
| Nearest City | Chimney Corners |
| River/Stream | Furnace Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.23361, -73.90333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 430 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 285 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 285 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,680 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF CORTLANDT |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/02/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01158 |
| Federal ID | NY01158 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |