Treman Lake Dam is a masonry dam located in Tompkins County, New York, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 36 ft36 ft tall and 85 ft long, taller than 82% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Treman Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Treman Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Nys Parks & Recreation Finger Lakes (state). It impounds the Buttermilk Creek near Ithaca.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 85 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1930, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/24/2022.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 82% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Tompkins |
| Nearest City | Ithaca |
| River/Stream | Buttermilk Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.40028, -76.51333 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 85 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Nys Parks & Recreation Finger Lakes |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01522 |
| Federal ID | NY01522 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |