Little Choconut Site 1a Dam is an earth dam located in Broome County, New York, built in 1969. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 35 ft35 ft tall and 525 ft long, taller than 80% 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 Little Choconut Site 1a Dam
The primary purpose of Little Choconut Site 1a Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Broome County - Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation (local government). It impounds the Tr-susquehanna River near Johnson City.
The dam stands 35 feet tall and stretches 525 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 340 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/30/2024.
At 35 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 | Broome |
| Nearest City | Johnson City |
| River/Stream | Tr-susquehanna River |
| Coordinates | 42.16028, -75.98306 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 525 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 340 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 340 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 10 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,730 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Broome County - Broome County Department of Parks and Recreation |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00578 |
| Federal ID | NY00578 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |