Cold Spring Dam (lower) is a concrete dam located in Putnam County, New York, built in 1942. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 328 ft long, taller than 50% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cold Spring Dam (lower)
The primary purpose of Cold Spring Dam (lower) 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 Village of Cold Spring (local government). It impounds the Foundry Brook near North Highland.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 328 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 70 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1942, 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 07/31/2024.
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 | Putnam |
| Nearest City | North Highland |
| River/Stream | Foundry Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.46500, -73.93889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 328 ft |
| Year Completed | 1942 (84 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 365 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Village of Cold Spring |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/31/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00107 |
| Federal ID | NY00107 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |