Nassau Lake Dam
Nassau Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rensselaer County, New York, built in 1792. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Nassau Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Nassau Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nassau Lake Park Improvement Association Inc (private). It impounds the Valatie Kill near Nassau.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 173 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 16 square miles. Completed in 1792, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/03/2022.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Rensselaer |
| Nearest City | Nassau |
| River/Stream | Valatie Kill |
| Coordinates | 42.53111, -73.60250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1792 (234 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 380 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 173 acres |
| Drainage Area | 16 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 990 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NASSAU LAKE PARK IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00620 |
| Federal ID | NY00620 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |