Glenmere Lake Dam
Glenmere Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Orange County, New York, built in 1880. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Glenmere Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Glenmere Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Orange County Public Works;town Of Chester;village Of Florida (local government). It impounds the Browns Creek near Randelville.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 600 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 328 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,327 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1880, 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 04/03/2025.
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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Randelville |
| River/Stream | Browns Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.33750, -74.32861 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 600 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,327 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,327 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,832 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 328 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 78 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ORANGE COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS;TOWN OF CHESTER;VILLAGE OF FLORIDA |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00224 |
| Federal ID | NY00224 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |