Lake Moraine Dam
Lake Moraine Dam is an earth dam located in Madison County, New York, built in 1836. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Moraine Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Moraine Dam 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 Payne Brook near Hamilton.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 800 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 260 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1836, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/02/2023.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Madison |
| Nearest City | Hamilton |
| River/Stream | Payne Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.84639, -75.52694 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 800 ft |
| Year Completed | 1836 (190 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,765 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 260 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,270 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Navigation |
| Owner | New York State Canal Corporation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00354 |
| Federal ID | NY00354 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |