Churchill Dam
Churchill Dam is a rockfill dam located in Delaware County, New York, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Churchill Dam
The primary purpose of Churchill Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Village Of Stamford (local government). It impounds the Tr-w Branch Delaware River near Stamford.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 340 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 31 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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 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 01/02/2024.
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 | Delaware |
| Nearest City | Stamford |
| River/Stream | Tr-w Branch Delaware River |
| Coordinates | 42.41222, -74.62722 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 340 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 350 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | VILLAGE OF STAMFORD |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/02/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY12726 |
| Federal ID | NY12726 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |