Complying With NYS Dam Safety Regulations
If your lake has a dam, it’s important to know who owns it and who is responsible for maintaining it. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Bureau of Flood Protection and Dam Safety is charged with ensuring the integrity of the state’s dams to protect lives and property. Their website has lots of useful information, and you can also contact them at (518)-402-8185
New York State Dams Inventory
The DEC has a Virtual Globe dataset that depicts the location of dams in the New York State Inventory of Dams. While the DEC tries to maintain an accurate inventory, this data should not be relied upon for emergency response decision-making. DEC recommends that critical data, including dam location and hazard classification, be verified in the field. The presence or absence of a dam in this inventory does not indicate its regulatory status. Any corrections to the inventory should be submitted to the Department’s Dam Safety Section with supporting information.
Additional Resources
Association of State Dam Safety Officials
The Association of State Dam Safety Officials “Dam Owner Academy” includes a series of videos to educate and inform owners on all aspects of operating and maintaining a dam safely. The videos concisely present the critical basics of owner responsibility and are available as a free resource for ownres and those conducting owner outreach program. Titles in the video series are: “Dams 101”, “Operations and Maintenance Plans”, “Dam Inspections”, “Spillways & Outlet Works”, “Emergency Planning”, “Extreme Rainfall Events”, “Hiring an Experienced and Qualified Dam Engineer”, and “Rehabilitation Projects”.
Former NYSFOLA Board member Bob Rosati inspects the Melody Lake Dam in Willet