Putnam Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, New York, built in 1965. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 21 ft21 ft tall and 183 ft long. 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 Putnam Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Putnam Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Dec Operations (state). It impounds the Putnam Creek near Chilson.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 183 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 276 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,996 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 08/24/2023.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Chilson |
| River/Stream | Putnam Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.83833, -73.57167 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 183 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,996 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,996 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 788 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 276 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,080 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nys Dec Operations |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00555 |
| Federal ID | NY00555 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |