South Lake Dam
South Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Greene County, New York, built in 1973. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
About South Lake Dam
The primary purpose of South Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Dec Operations (state). It impounds the Tr-kaaterskill Creek near Kaaterskill Falls.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 471 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/17/2025.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Greene |
| Nearest City | Kaaterskill Falls |
| River/Stream | Tr-kaaterskill Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.19611, -74.05069 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 471 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 471 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 308 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 323 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NYS DEC Operations |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not Rated |
| Last Inspection | 04/17/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01337 |
| Federal ID | NY01337 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |