Dansville Reservoir Dam
Dansville Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Steuben County, New York, built in 1937. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Dansville Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Dansville Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Village Of Dansville (local government). It impounds the Little Mill Creek near Dansville.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 550 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 45 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 954 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1937, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 04/24/2025.
At 54 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 | Steuben |
| Nearest City | Dansville |
| River/Stream | Little Mill Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.56750, -77.64222 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 550 ft |
| Year Completed | 1937 (89 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 954 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 954 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 495 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF DANSVILLE |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/24/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00431 |
| Federal ID | NY00431 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |