Ryder Lake Dam
Ryder Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Putnam County, New York, built in 1955. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Ryder Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Ryder Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Marigrace Blanks (private). It impounds the West Branch Croton River.
The dam stands 21 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 153 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 11/20/2020.
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Location
| State | New York |
| County | Putnam |
| Nearest City | None |
| River/Stream | West Branch Croton River |
| Coordinates | 41.47333, -73.76972 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Height | 21 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 153 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 103 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MARIGRACE BLANKS |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/20/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY14969 |
| Federal ID | NY14969 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |