Basic Creek Dam is an earth dam located in Albany County, New York, built in 1928. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 865 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Basic Creek Dam
The primary purpose of Basic Creek Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Albany Water Board;albany Water Board;albany Water Board (local government). It impounds the Basic Creek near South Westerlo.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 865 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 246 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,922 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1928, 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 04/09/2024.
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 | Albany |
| Nearest City | South Westerlo |
| River/Stream | Basic Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.47722, -74.01444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 865 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,922 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,922 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,146 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 246 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,967 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Albany Water Board;albany Water Board;albany Water Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00084 |
| Federal ID | NY00084 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |