Skaneateles Lake Dam
Skaneateles Lake Dam is a masonry dam located in Onondaga County, New York, built in 1902. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Skaneateles Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Skaneateles Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Syracuse (local government). It impounds the Skaneateles Creek near Skaneateles.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8,664 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 160,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 72 square miles. Completed in 1902, 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 10/23/2023.
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 | Onondaga |
| Nearest City | Skaneateles |
| River/Stream | Skaneateles Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.94623, -76.43005 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1902 (124 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 160,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 160,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 141,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8,664 acres |
| Drainage Area | 72 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 860 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF SYRACUSE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/23/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00414 |
| Federal ID | NY00414 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |