Green Lake Dam
Green Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Erie County, New York, built in 1909. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Green Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Green Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Orchard Park (local government). It impounds the South Branch Smoke Creek near Orchard Park.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 24 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 245 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1909, the structure is over a century 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 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 05/10/2023.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Erie |
| Nearest City | Orchard Park |
| River/Stream | South Branch Smoke Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.75833, -78.75389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1909 (117 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 245 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 245 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 218 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 11,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF ORCHARD PARK |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/10/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00892 |
| Federal ID | NY00892 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |