Delta Dam
Delta Dam is a concrete dam located in Oneida County, New York, built in 1912. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Delta Dam
The primary purpose of Delta 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 (state). It impounds the Mohawk River near Rome.
The dam stands 106 feet tall and stretches 1,000 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2,700 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 88,179 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 148 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/18/2023.
At 106 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Oneida |
| Nearest City | Rome |
| River/Stream | Mohawk River |
| Coordinates | 43.27444, -75.42889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Height | 106 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,000 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 88,179 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 88,179 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 63,131 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2,700 acres |
| Drainage Area | 148 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 27,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | New York State Canal Corporation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/18/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00006 |
| Federal ID | NY00006 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |