Virgil Creek Watershed Floodwater Dam
Virgil Creek Watershed Floodwater Dam is an earth dam located in Tompkins County, New York, built in 1998. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Virgil Creek Watershed Floodwater Dam
The primary purpose of Virgil Creek Watershed Floodwater Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Tompkins County Department Of Planning;town Of Dryden;village Of Dryden (local government). It impounds the Virgil Creek near Dryden.
The dam stands 70 feet tall, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,992 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 18 square miles. Completed in 1998, the structure is 28 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 02/27/2025.
At 70 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Tompkins |
| Nearest City | Dryden |
| River/Stream | Virgil Creek |
| Coordinates | 42.47361, -76.26389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 70 ft |
| Dam Height | 70 ft |
| Year Completed | 1998 (28 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,992 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,992 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 18 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | TOMPKINS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING;Town of Dryden;Village of Dryden |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 02/27/2025 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY14995 |
| Federal ID | NY14995 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |