Ischua Creek Watershed Dam #4
Ischua Creek Watershed Dam #4 is an earth dam located in Cattaraugus County, New York, built in 1961. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ischua Creek Watershed Dam #4
The primary purpose of Ischua Creek Watershed Dam #4 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 Cattaraugus County;cattaraugus County (local government). It impounds the Saunders Creek near Franklinville.
The dam stands 51 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,011 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1961, 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 10/16/2024.
At 51 feet, this dam is taller than 93% 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 | Cattaraugus |
| Nearest City | Franklinville |
| River/Stream | Saunders Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.34528, -78.43500 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1961 (65 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,011 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,011 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 302 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | CATTARAUGUS COUNTY;Cattaraugus County |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00626 |
| Federal ID | NY00626 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |