80-Year-Old Lake Suzanne Dam To Be Rehabilitated In Ramapo

RAMAPO, NY — Lake Suzanne was created 80 years ago when a hunting and fishing club that is no longer in existence dammed the Pascack Brook.

The dam's ownership defaulted to the town of Ramapo and county of Rockland.

Now it is being upgraded to modern standards. Rockland County Executive Ed Day, Executive Director of the Rockland County Drainage Agency Vince Altieri, County Legislator Phil Soskin and Town of Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht broke ground Thursday on the $1.5 million project that splits costs evenly between the town and county.

Soskin, who represents the area, thanked everyone for their diligent work in getting the vital project to this point.

"My constituents, who are also my neighbors, can sleep better now knowing this new dam will be up to current standards, making it safer for all," Soskin said.

The project consists of removing and replacing the existing concrete spillway structure with a labyrinth spillway structure and raising the embankment elevations. After the existing concrete structure is removed and replaced, the embankment will be reshaped, and stabilized with heavy stone fill, grass, and wildflowers.

“I am proud to be here today for this project which epitomizes intergovernmental cooperation," Day said. "All throughout Rockland we are undertaking necessary infrastructure projects to bring our facilities up to date. We refuse to kick the can down the road for future generations. But we are doing so in the most financially responsible way possible."

The Lake Suzanne Dam once had a "high hazard" classification from New York State. "High hazard" means people could die if the dam bursts.

However, WSP Engineering, hired to perform an engineering analysis prior to updating the dam, determined that it was not properly classified and was able to get the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to reclassify it from a “C” High Hazard Dam to a “B” Intermediate Hazard Dam — which reduced construction costs.

Failure of a dam rated "intermediate hazard" could result in damage to isolated homes, main highways, and minor railroads; may result in the interruption of important utilities, including water supply, sewage treatment, fuel, power, cable or telephone infrastructure; and/or is otherwise likely to pose the threat of personal injury and/or substantial economic loss or substantial environmental damage. Loss of human life is not expected as it is with a dam classified "high hazard."

Breakdown of $1,493,600 project costs:

• WSP Engineering - $224,000
• Colonnelli Bros - $1,143,100
• Tectonic - $126,500

"We are glad to partner with the County and County Drainage Agency on this project which will bring the dam into compliance with current regulatory standards while improving the quality of life for Town residents living around Lake Suzanne,” said Specht.

Of the 29 intermediate and high hazard dams in Rockland, 12 are classified as "high hazard" including Congers Lake Dam and Central Nyack Dam — which are also rated as "deficiently maintained." The Lake Suzanne Dam is not rated.

The most infamous dam built by a private club was a dam in Pennsylvania by which the South Fork Hunting & Fishing Club created a private lake for an exclusive mountain retreat for more than 50 wealthy Pittsburgh families. It was deficiently maintained. After it burst and killed 2,200 people down the valley in Johnstown, the club members argued successfully in court that the heavy rain was an act of God.

MORE READING:

• Living With Dams: Know Your Risk
• Living With Dams: Extreme Rainfall Events
• Johnstown’s Flood of 1889: Power Over Truth and The Science Behind the Disaster