Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam is a concrete dam located in Chautauqua County, New York, built in 1906. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 19 ft19 ft tall and 90 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 Smiths Mills Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Smiths Mills 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 Silver Creek (local government). It impounds the Silver Creek near Smiths Mills.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 90 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 27 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 15 square miles. Completed in 1906, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 05/10/2023.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Chautauqua |
| Nearest City | Smiths Mills |
| River/Stream | Silver Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.50333, -79.10333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 90 ft |
| Year Completed | 1906 (120 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Drainage Area | 15 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 235 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Village of Silver Creek |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00786 |
| Federal ID | NY00786 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |