Papish Pond Dam
Papish Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Cortland County, New York. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Papish Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Papish Pond 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 Fish And Wildlife (state). It impounds the Trib To Otselic River near Willet.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 77 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/18/2024.
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 | Cortland |
| Nearest City | Willet |
| River/Stream | Trib To Otselic River |
| Coordinates | 42.49028, -75.94944 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 77 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | NYS DEC DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/18/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | NY16215 |
| Federal ID | NY16215 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |