Dams in Rensselaer County, New York

35Total Dams
10High Hazard
12Significant

Dam Safety in Rensselaer County, New York

Rensselaer County has 35 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 10 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 12 carry a significant hazard classification. Currently, 12 dams have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory.

The average dam in Rensselaer County is 109 years old. The most common purpose is recreation. The tallest dam is Tomhannock Reservoir Dam at 68 ft.

DamHazardConditionHeight (ft)PurposeYear
Tomhannock Reservoir DamHighSatisfactory68Water Supply1905
Martin Dunham Reservoir DamHighPoor59Recreation1913
Bradley Lake DamHighFair50Recreation1859
Wright Lake DamHighFair46Recreation1861
Black River Pond DamHighFair42Recreation1935
JohnsonvilleHighSatisfactory39Hydroelectric1909
Quackenderry Creek DamHighSatisfactory17Flood Risk Reduction2002
Mill Pond DamHighPoor12Recreation1918
Long Pond DamHighSatisfactory9Recreation1918
Second Pond DamHighFair9Recreation1975
MechanicvilleSignificantSatisfactory26Hydroelectric1900
Hoosac School DamSignificantPoor25Recreation1950
Kane DamSignificantPoor25Recreation1923
Rail Joint Mill DamSignificantPoor25Irrigation1903
Burden Lake DamSignificantPoor24Recreation1916
Hastings Power DamSignificantPoor22Hydroelectric1920
Dyken Pond DamSignificantPoor20Recreation1914
Glass Lake DamSignificantFair18Recreation1916
Faith Mills Lower DamSignificantPoor18Hydroelectric1930
Van Derheyden Reservoir DamSignificantPoor14Recreation1868
Nassau Lake DamSignificantPoor10Recreation1792
Lock 4 - StillwaterSignificantSatisfactory5Hydroelectric1955
SchaghticokeLowSatisfactory28Hydroelectric1909
Lake Lorraine DamLowNot Rated26Recreation1973
Deep Kill DamLowNot Rated25Recreation1898
Hoosick Falls DamLowNot Rated22Hydroelectric1890
Wager DamLowNot Rated19Recreation1939
James ThompsonLowSatisfactory19Hydroelectric1927
Lake Elizabeth DamLowNot Rated18Recreation1950
Burden Pond DamLowNot Rated17Recreation1942
Smith Pond DamLowNot Rated12Recreation1939
Ida Lake DamLowPoor12Recreation1912
Babcock Lake DamLowNot Rated9Recreation1978
Clinton Heights Storage DamLowNot Rated8Other1925
Cranberry Pond DamLowNot Rated7Recreation1800