Brocton Reservoir Dam
Brocton Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Chautauqua County, New York, built in 1952. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Brocton Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Brocton Reservoir 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 Village Of Brocton (local government). It impounds the Slippery Rock Creek near Brocton.
The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 988 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 479 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1952, 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 05/11/2023.
At 52 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 | Chautauqua |
| Nearest City | Brocton |
| River/Stream | Slippery Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.36972, -79.42694 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Height | 52 ft |
| Dam Length | 988 ft |
| Year Completed | 1952 (74 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 479 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 479 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 245 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,322 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF BROCTON |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/11/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00785 |
| Federal ID | NY00785 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |