Harwood Lake Dam
Harwood Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Cattaraugus County, New York, built in 1963. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Harwood Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Harwood Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Dec Division Of Fish And Wildlife (state). It impounds the Tr-ischua Creek near Franklinville.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 1,070 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 350 acre-feet. Completed in 1963, 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 08/01/2024.
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 | Tr-ischua Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.38203, -78.38350 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,070 ft |
| Year Completed | 1963 (63 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Max Discharge | 95 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NYS DEC DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00627 |
| Federal ID | NY00627 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |