Pine Hill Lake Dam
Pine Hill Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Ulster County, New York, built in 1987. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Pine Hill Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pine Hill 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 Dec Division Of Lands & Forests;nys Olympic Regional Development Authority, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center (state). It impounds the Birch Creek near Big Indian.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 1,257 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 116 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1987, the structure is 39 years 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 06/25/2024.
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 | Ulster |
| Nearest City | Big Indian |
| River/Stream | Birch Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.12639, -74.47583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,257 ft |
| Year Completed | 1987 (39 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 116 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 94 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 298 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NYS DEC DIVISION OF LANDS & FORESTS;NYS Olympic Regional Development Authority, Belleayre Mountain Ski Center |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/25/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY01586 |
| Federal ID | NY01586 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |