Waverly Lower Reservoir Dam
Waverly Lower Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Tioga County, New York, built in 1880. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Waverly Lower Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Waverly Lower Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Village Of Waverly (local government). It impounds the Dry Brook near Waverly.
The dam stands 54 feet tall and stretches 310 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 18 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 360 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1880, the structure is over a century 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 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 02/14/2024.
At 54 feet, this dam is taller than 94% 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 | Tioga |
| Nearest City | Waverly |
| River/Stream | Dry Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.01083, -76.55667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Height | 54 ft |
| Dam Length | 310 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 18 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,640 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF WAVERLY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/14/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00623 |
| Federal ID | NY00623 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |