Clarification: Loughberry Lake Dam Classified as “High Hazard” Dam

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A story titled “Dam Project Addresses Drinking Water” that appeared on the front page of the Jan. 24-30 edition of Saratoga TODAY misclassified the current hazard class of the Loughberry Lake Dam. 

That version referred to the Loughberry Lake Dam as having an “Intermediate Hazard” classification. It was reclassified as “High Hazard” sometime during the past few years due to increased development.

A state DEC inspection classified the dam as a “High Hazard,” a based on the potential impact that a dam failure may have on downstream areas. By definition, the estimated consequences were the dam to fail: “may result in widespread or serious damage to home(s); damage to main highways, industrial or commercial buildings, railroads, and/or important utilities, including water supply, sewage treatment, fuel, power, cable or telephone infrastructure; or substantial environmental damage; such that the loss of human life or widespread substantial economic loss is likely.”  

The $9 million project to address aging infrastructure in a remediation of the deficiencies of the Loughberry Lake Dam initially got underway in October 2024 and is slated to continue to October 2025.