Vly Creek Reservoir Dike
Vly Creek Reservoir Dike is an earth dam located in Albany County, New York, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Vly Creek Reservoir Dike
The primary purpose of Vly Creek Reservoir Dike 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 Town Of Bethlehem (local government). It impounds the Vly Creek near New Salem.
The dam stands 40 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,227 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1957, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 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 04/09/2024.
At 40 feet, this dam is taller than 87% 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 | Albany |
| Nearest City | New Salem |
| River/Stream | Vly Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.61556, -73.95556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 40 ft |
| Dam Height | 40 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,227 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,227 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,486 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | TOWN OF BETHLEHEM |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/09/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00097 |
| Federal ID | NY00097 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |