Onderdonk Lake Dam
Onderdonk Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Albany County, New York, built in 1928. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Onderdonk Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Onderdonk Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Albany County;helen Sisson Family Trust;jon Clark;nancy Redzikowski & Mary Tesoriero;town Of Westerlo (private). It impounds the Switz Kill near South Berne.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 64 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 280 acre-feet. Completed in 1928, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 02/16/2023.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Albany |
| Nearest City | South Berne |
| River/Stream | Switz Kill |
| Coordinates | 42.55056, -74.08583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1928 (98 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Max Discharge | 75 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | ALBANY COUNTY;HELEN SISSON FAMILY TRUST;Jon Clark;NANCY REDZIKOWSKI & MARY TESORIERO;TOWN OF WESTERLO |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01452 |
| Federal ID | NY01452 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |