Red House Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cattaraugus County, New York, built in 1929. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 1,425 ft long, taller than 55% 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 Red House Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Red House Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Allegany Region (state). It impounds the Red House Brook near Scattered Houses.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 1,425 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 110 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 766 acre-feet. Completed in 1929, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/19/2023.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Cattaraugus |
| Nearest City | Scattered Houses |
| River/Stream | Red House Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.10333, -78.75000 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,425 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 766 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 766 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 575 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
| Max Discharge | 2,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nys Office of Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation, Allegany Region |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00471 |
| Federal ID | NY00471 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |