Watervliet Upper Dam
Watervliet Upper Dam is an earth dam located in Albany County, New York, built in 1912. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Watervliet Upper Dam
The primary purpose of Watervliet Upper Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City Of Watervliet (local government). It impounds the Dry River near Watervliet.
The dam stands 72 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,217 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1912, 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 04/25/2024.
At 72 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 | Albany |
| Nearest City | Watervliet |
| River/Stream | Dry River |
| Coordinates | 42.74066, -73.71839 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Height | 72 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,217 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,217 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 272 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CITY OF WATERVLIET |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01356 |
| Federal ID | NY01356 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |