Newtown Hoffman Site 12e Dam
Newtown Hoffman Site 12e Dam is an earth dam located in Chemung County, New York, built in 1989. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Newtown Hoffman Site 12e Dam
The primary purpose of Newtown Hoffman Site 12e 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 Chemung County Soil & Water (local government). It impounds the North Branch Newtown Creek near Horseheads.
The dam stands 71 feet tall and stretches 2,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,081 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1989, the structure is 37 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 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 09/19/2024.
At 71 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 | Chemung |
| Nearest City | Horseheads |
| River/Stream | North Branch Newtown Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.19500, -76.78444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Height | 71 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1989 (37 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,081 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,081 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 149 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 47,919 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CHEMUNG COUNTY SOIL & WATER |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/19/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01578 |
| Federal ID | NY01578 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |