Tomahawk Lake Dam
Tomahawk Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Orange County, New York, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Tomahawk Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Tomahawk Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Tomahawk Lake, Llc (private). It impounds the Cromline Creek near Washingtonville.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 1,064 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 175 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,359 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 28 square miles. Completed in 1929, 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 04/03/2025.
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 | Washingtonville |
| River/Stream | Cromline Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.41583, -74.21861 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,064 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,359 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,359 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,199 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 175 acres |
| Drainage Area | 28 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Tomahawk Lake, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00618 |
| Federal ID | NY00618 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |