Kingdom Dam
Kingdom Dam is a concrete dam located in Essex County, New York, built in 1911. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Kingdom Dam
The primary purpose of Kingdom Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Dec Division Of Lands & Forests (state). It impounds the Black River near Wadhams.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 255 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 475 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 4,480 acre-feet. Completed in 1911, the structure is over a century 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 08/24/2023.
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 | Essex |
| Nearest City | Wadhams |
| River/Stream | Black River |
| Coordinates | 44.16500, -73.55528 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 255 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,480 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,480 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,920 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 475 acres |
| Max Discharge | 725 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NYS DEC DIVISION OF LANDS & FORESTS |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00218 |
| Federal ID | NY00218 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |