Highland Lake Dam
Highland Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Orange County, New York, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Highland Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Highland Lake 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 City Of Middletown (local government). It impounds the Shawanunkill.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 516 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 98 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 2,147 acre-feet. Completed in 1920, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/03/2025.
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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | Shawanunkill |
| Coordinates | 41.45139, -74.48639 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 516 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,147 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,147 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 98 acres |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | CITY OF MIDDLETOWN |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/03/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01131 |
| Federal ID | NY01131 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |