Empire Mills Dam is a concrete dam located in Wayne County, New York, built in 1916. It carries a Low hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 102 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 Empire Mills Dam
The primary purpose of Empire Mills Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Steven Bartleson (private). It impounds the Salmon Creek near Sodus Center.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 102 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 19 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 126 acre-feet. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. The most recent inspection on record was 03/13/2025.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | New York |
| County | Wayne |
| Nearest City | Sodus Center |
| River/Stream | Salmon Creek |
| Coordinates | 43.20667, -77.01833 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 102 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 62 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 19 acres |
| Max Discharge | 3,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Steven Bartleson |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 03/13/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00813 |
| Federal ID | NY00813 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |