Diamond Mills Paper Company Dam
Diamond Mills Paper Company Dam is a concrete dam located in Ulster County, New York, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Diamond Mills Paper Company Dam
The primary purpose of Diamond Mills Paper Company Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Leading Edge Developers, Llc (private). It impounds the Esopus Creek near Saugerties.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 140 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 830 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 423 square miles. Completed in 1929, 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 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 06/24/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 82% 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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Ulster |
| Nearest City | Saugerties |
| River/Stream | Esopus Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.07222, -73.95056 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 830 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 830 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 826 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 140 acres |
| Drainage Area | 423 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | LEADING EDGE DEVELOPERS, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/24/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00089 |
| Federal ID | NY00089 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |