Owasco Lake Outlet Dam is a masonry dam located in Cayuga County, New York, built in 1972. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 258 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Owasco Lake Outlet Dam
The primary purpose of Owasco Lake Outlet 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 Auburn (local government). It impounds the Owasco Outlet near Auburn.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 258 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6,400 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 64,233 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 207 square miles. Completed in 1972, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/20/2024.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Cayuga |
| Nearest City | Auburn |
| River/Stream | Owasco Outlet |
| Coordinates | 42.91972, -76.54833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 258 ft |
| Year Completed | 1972 (54 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 64,233 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 64,233 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 17,712 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6,400 acres |
| Drainage Area | 207 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,792 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Auburn |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00776 |
| Federal ID | NY00776 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |