Van Derheyden Reservoir Dam

Van Derheyden Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Rensselaer County, New York, built in 1868. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Van Derheyden Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Van Derheyden Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Brunswick (local government). It impounds the Piscawan Kill near Troy.

The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 380 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 79 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1868, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 01/04/2023.

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Significant HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateNew York
CountyRensselaer
Nearest CityTroy
River/StreamPiscawan Kill
Coordinates42.76306, -73.63944

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height14 ft
Dam Height14 ft
Dam Length380 ft
Year Completed1868 (158 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage79 acre-ft
Max Storage79 acre-ft
Normal Storage47 acre-ft
Surface Area48 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge480 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerTOWN OF BRUNSWICK
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection01/04/2023
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDNY00116
Federal IDNY00116
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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