Papish Pond Dam

TRIB TO OTSELIC RIVER· Cortland, New York· Earth· 12 ft tall

High Hazard Recreation State Government

Key Takeaway

Papish Pond Dam is classified as high hazard in New York. Its primary use is recreation. High hazard means loss of life is likely if the dam fails — it does not indicate the dam's current condition. Learn more.

Physical Details

Dam Height	12 ft (taller than 23.2% in NY)
Dam Length	325 ft
Dam Type	Earth
Max Storage	77 acre-ft
Normal Storage	51 acre-ft

Surface Area	39 acres
Drainage Area	1 sq mi
NID ID	NY16215

Safety Information

High Hazard

Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails.

Hazard potential describes downstream consequences of failure, not the dam's current condition. What does this mean?

Emergency Action Plan: Yes

Last Inspection: September 1, 2020

State Regulated: Yes

Regulatory Agency: NYS DEC

Ownership

NYS DEC - DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE

State Government

Nearby Dams

Bloody Pond Dam

Cortland, NY

Low Hazard 12 ft

Stump Pond Dam

Cortland, NY

High Hazard 15 ft

Grassi-Corini-Grandolf Dam

Cortland, NY

Low Hazard 15 ft

Melody Lake Dam

Cortland, NY

High Hazard 26 ft

Speery & Stramba Wildlife Dam

Cortland, NY

Low Hazard 14 ft

Edward Decker Recreational Pond Dam

Cortland, NY

Low Hazard 14 ft

Belnap Briggs & Stremba Pond Dam

Cortland, NY

Low Hazard 9 ft

Genegantslet Creek Project Dam 2a

Chenango, NY

Significant Hazard 23 ft

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the hazard classification of Papish Pond Dam?

Papish Pond Dam is classified as High Hazard. Loss of human life is likely if the dam fails. This classification refers to the potential downstream consequences of a failure, not the dam's current structural condition.

Who owns and operates Papish Pond Dam?

Papish Pond Dam is owned by NYS DEC - DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (State Government). The owner is responsible for maintenance, inspections, and compliance with dam safety regulations.

What is the primary purpose of Papish Pond Dam?

Papish Pond Dam serves the following purposes: Recreation. Many dams in the U.S. are multi-purpose, supporting flood control, water supply, recreation, and other uses.

How tall is Papish Pond Dam?

Papish Pond Dam has a dam height of 12 ft. Dam height is measured from the natural streambed at the downstream toe to the top of the dam, and may differ from the visible height.

When was Papish Pond Dam last inspected?

Papish Pond Dam was last inspected on September 1, 2020. Inspection dates indicate when a formal review occurred, not the results of that inspection.

Data from the National Inventory of Dams (NID) maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers. Dam conditions may have changed since the last update. This site is not affiliated with USACE. Do not use for emergency planning — contact your local dam safety program.