Sterling Forest Lake Dam
Sterling Forest Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Orange County, New York, built in 1953. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sterling Forest Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Sterling Forest Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Watchtower Bible And Tract Society Of New York, Inc.;watchtower Bible And Tract Society Of New York, Inc. (private). It impounds the Tr-ringwood Creek near Eagle Valley.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 320 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 115 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,380 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1953, 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 11/01/2023.
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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Eagle Valley |
| River/Stream | Tr-ringwood Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.16056, -74.25556 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 320 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,380 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,380 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 115 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC.;WATCHTOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/01/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00226 |
| Federal ID | NY00226 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |