Howlands Lake Dam
Howlands Lake Dam is a stone dam located in Westchester County, New York, built in 1895. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Howlands Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Howlands Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Bedford Lake Park Association Inc (private). It impounds the Kisco River near Mt Kisco.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 67 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 26 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 184 acre-feet. Completed in 1895, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/14/2025.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Westchester |
| Nearest City | Mt Kisco |
| River/Stream | Kisco River |
| Coordinates | 41.19667, -73.70639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 67 ft |
| Year Completed | 1895 (131 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 184 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 184 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 132 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 26 acres |
| Max Discharge | 50 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | BEDFORD LAKE PARK ASSOCIATION INC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/14/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY00973 |
| Federal ID | NY00973 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |