Nuclear Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Dutchess County, New York, built in 1936. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
Dam profile
NID height · 24 ft24 ft tall and 200 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Nuclear Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Nuclear Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Doi NPS (federal). It impounds the Tr-whaley Lake Stream near West Pawling.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 57 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1936, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/06/2023.
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 | Dutchess |
| Nearest City | West Pawling |
| River/Stream | Tr-whaley Lake Stream |
| Coordinates | 41.59528, -73.64750 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1936 (90 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 160 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 57 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 85 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Doi NPS |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not assessed |
| Last Inspection | 06/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00871 |
| Federal ID | NY00871 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |