Chadwick Lake Dam
Chadwick Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Orange County, New York, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Chadwick Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Chadwick Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Newburgh (local government). It impounds the Quassaick Creek near Gardnertown.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 570 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 207 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,840 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 13 square miles. Completed in 1926, 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 10/25/2023.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Gardnertown |
| River/Stream | Quassaick Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.55611, -74.06583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,840 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,840 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,881 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 207 acres |
| Drainage Area | 13 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Newburgh |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/25/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00509 |
| Federal ID | NY00509 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |