Harrison Spillway Dam
Harrison Spillway Dam is a concrete dam located in Wayne County, New York, built in 1918. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Harrison Spillway Dam
The primary purpose of Harrison Spillway Dam is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by New York State Canal Corporation - Western Division (state). It impounds the Canargua Creek.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 647 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 145 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 151 square miles. Completed in 1918, 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 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 03/28/2024.
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 | Wayne |
| River/Stream | Canargua Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.06486, -77.19081 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 647 ft |
| Year Completed | 1918 (108 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 145 acres |
| Drainage Area | 151 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,390 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | New York State Canal Corporation - Western Division |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/28/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY17176 |
| Federal ID | NY17176 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |