Benson Mines Little River Dam is an earth dam located in St. Lawrence County, New York, built in 1948. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 44 ft44 ft tall and 1,420 ft long, taller than 89% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Benson Mines Little River Dam
The primary purpose of Benson Mines Little River Dam is irrigation. The dam stores and diverts water for agricultural irrigation, supporting farming operations in the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Ying Sum Tsui (private). It impounds the Little River near Star Lake.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 1,420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,380 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 08/03/2022.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 89% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | St. Lawrence |
| Nearest City | Star Lake |
| River/Stream | Little River |
| Coordinates | 44.15972, -74.97444 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,380 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,380 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,660 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Irrigation |
| Owner | Ying Sum Tsui |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00424 |
| Federal ID | NY00424 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |