Tillson Lake Dam

About Tillson Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Tillson Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nysoprhp - Palisades Interstate Park Commission (state). It impounds the Palmaghatt Kill near Rutsonville.

The dam stands 39 feet tall and stretches 308 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 23 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 394 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.

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 06/14/2024.

At 39 feet, this dam is taller than 86% of dams nationwide.

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.

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