Galway Lake Dam
Galway Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Saratoga County, New York, built in 1982. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Galway Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Galway Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Galway Lake Campers Association (private). It impounds the North Chuctanunda Creek near West Galway.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 458 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 564 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 9,605 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 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 01/09/2025.
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 | Saratoga |
| Nearest City | West Galway |
| River/Stream | North Chuctanunda Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.02611, -74.08361 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 458 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 9,605 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 9,605 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,936 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 564 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,340 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | GALWAY LAKE CAMPERS ASSOCIATION |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 01/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00165 |
| Federal ID | NY00165 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |