North Lake a Dam (spillway) is an earth dam located in Herkimer County, New York, built in 1850. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 160 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About North Lake a Dam (spillway)
The primary purpose of North Lake a Dam (spillway) is navigation. The dam maintains water levels sufficient for boat and barge traffic, supporting commercial or recreational navigation on the waterway. The dam is owned by New York State Canal Corporation (state). It impounds the North Lake Outlet near Atwell.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 442 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,208 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 31 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/10/2025.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Herkimer |
| Nearest City | Atwell |
| River/Stream | North Lake Outlet |
| Coordinates | 43.52167, -74.94833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,208 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,208 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,473 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 442 acres |
| Drainage Area | 31 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | New York State Canal Corporation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 04/10/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00325 |
| Federal ID | NY00325 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |