Stillwell is a concrete dam located in Orange County, New York, built in 1948. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 62 ft62 ft tall and 480 ft long, taller than 95% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Stillwell
The primary purpose of Stillwell 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 West Point (federal). It impounds the Popolopen Creek near Town of Highlands.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 133 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,038 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/13/2019. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Town of Highlands |
| River/Stream | Popolopen Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.34410, -74.03219 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,038 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,038 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,884 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 133 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | West Point |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/13/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00770 |
| Federal ID | NY00770 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |