Warning: Javascript must be enabled to use all the features on this page!


Page Loading - Please Wait...

Click to hideNews Bulletins
  • Due to a lapse in government funding, the majority of USGS websites will not be updated except to provide important public safety information. Websites displaying real-time water data will be updated with limited support. For more information please see www.doi.gov/shutdown.
  • Explore the NEW USGS National Water Dashboard interactive map to access real-time water data from over 13,500 stations nationwide.
! This page is undergoing modernization with expected decommissioning as key features are added to the modernized pages.
Learn more about our modernization plans to find out which options will suit you best. Next Generation Monitoring Location Page is available now.
A beta version of the My Favorites page is available in WDFN. Try it out and tell us what you think at wdfn@usgs.gov

USGS 04253400 FIRST LAKE AT OLD FORGE NY

PROVISIONAL DATA SUBJECT TO REVISION

Click to hidestation-specific text

 

> Site Information
LOCATION.--Lat 43°42'45.6", long 74°58'09.7" referenced to North American Datum of 1983, Herkimer County, NY, Hydrologic Unit 04150101, at dam on Middle Branch Moose River, 100 ft upstream from bridge on State Highway 28 at Old Forge, and 11.2 mi downstream from dam on Sixth Lake outlet at Inlet.
DRAINAGE AREA.--53.6 mi².
PERIOD OF RECORD.--October 1969 to September 2003 (month-end elevations or gage heights, and contents). October 2003 to current year. Prior to October 1971, published as "Old Forge Reservoir". Records from November 1911 to September 1969, available from Board of Hudson River-Black River Regulating District.
REVISIONS HISTORY.--WDR NY-85-1: Drainage area.
GAGE.--Water-stage recorder and nonrecording gage read once daily. Datum of gage is NGVD of 1929 (levels by Board of Hudson River-Black River Regulating District). To convert elevations to NAVD of 1988, add 0.07 ft. Prior to 2004 water year, only nonrecording gage read once daily.
COOPERATION.--Elevation record and capacity table (1959) provided by Board of Hudson River-Black River Regulating District.
REMARKS.--The First through Fifth Lakes of Fulton Chain Lakes are partially formed and controlled by a concrete dam with 12-inch flashboards. Storage began around 1881 or 1882 with a wooden crib dam. This dam was replaced with a concrete dam in 1905 and gates were installed in 1927. Usable capacity, 895.6 mil ft³ between minimum operating level, elevation 1,696.8 ft, and crest of spillway with flashboards, elevation 1,707.04 ft. Usable capacity without flashboards, 764.3 mil ft³, elevation 1,706.06 ft; no dead storage below minimum operating level. Figures given herein represent usable contents. The dam is operated by Board of Hudson River-Black River Regulating District.
Capacity table (elevation, in feet, and usable contents, in millions of cubic feet)

Elevation  Contents      Elevation  Contents
1,699.4       0.5        1,704.0     498.0
1,700.0      21.0        1,706.0     756.5
1,702.0     252.0        1,707.9   1,015.0
  

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD.--Maximum elevation observed, 1,707.93 ft, June 17, 1972, contents, 1,019 mil ft³; minimum elevation observed, 1,699.8 ft, Nov. 3, 1939, contents, 6.50 mil ft³.
> Rating Information
> Additional Site Information

Peak Flow and Stage Information

NAVD 1988 Datum Conversion Information

Instantaneous elevation data provided by Hudson River - Black River Regulating District, not reviewed by the USGS.


Gage PhotoStation image

 

This station managed by the NY Water Science Center Potsdam.

Available Parameters Available Period
  
2007-10-01  2025-08-22
2025-06-17  2025-08-22







 (7)
 

  -- or --

 


 

Summary of all available data for this site
Instantaneous-data availability statement
*** There are no data available on the Waterdata system for the time period specified,
    although data may be available in the files of the local USGS office operating the station.