Clear Lake Dam
Clear Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in Erie County, New York, built in 1925. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Clear Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Clear Lake 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 Nys Department Of Corrections And Community Supervision - Faciltiies Planning (state). It impounds the North Branch Clear Creek near Gowanda.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 46 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1925, the structure is over a century old.
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 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 11/02/2022.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Erie |
| Nearest City | Gowanda |
| River/Stream | North Branch Clear Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.55333, -78.85194 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 650 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Drainage Area | 5 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision - Faciltiies Planning |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00751 |
| Federal ID | NY00751 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |