Sleepy Hollow Dam
Sleepy Hollow Dam is an earth dam located in Greene County, New York, built in 1972. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sleepy Hollow Dam
The primary purpose of Sleepy Hollow Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Assoc Of Property Owners Of Sleepy Hollow Lake, Inc. (private). It impounds the Murderers Creek near Athens.
The dam stands 83 feet tall and stretches 753 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 324 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 13,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1972, 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 05/20/2024.
At 83 feet, this dam is taller than 97% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Greene |
| Nearest City | Athens |
| River/Stream | Murderers Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.28184, -73.80491 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 83 ft |
| Dam Height | 83 ft |
| Dam Length | 753 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 13,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,400 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 324 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ASSOC OF PROPERTY OWNERS OF SLEEPY HOLLOW LAKE, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00142 |
| Federal ID | NY00142 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |