Bradley Lake Dam
Bradley Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Rensselaer County, New York, built in 1859. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bradley Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Bradley Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Troy (local government). It impounds the Piscawan Kill near Troy.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 215 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1859, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 01/09/2025.
At 50 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 | Rensselaer |
| Nearest City | Troy |
| River/Stream | Piscawan Kill |
| Coordinates | 42.74778, -73.66889 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1859 (167 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 109 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | CITY OF TROY |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/09/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00755 |
| Federal ID | NY00755 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |