Union Falls is a concrete dam located in Clinton County, New York, built in 1905. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 520 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Union Falls
The primary purpose of Union Falls is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Union Falls Hydropower LP (private). It impounds the Saranac River near Clayburg.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 520 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1,630 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 329 square miles. Completed in 1905, 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 07/12/2022.
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 | Clinton |
| Nearest City | Clayburg |
| River/Stream | Saranac River |
| Coordinates | 44.50735, -73.91562 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 520 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8,900 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1,630 acres |
| Drainage Area | 329 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Union Falls Hydropower LP |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/12/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00238 |
| Federal ID | NY00238 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |