Mount Morris Dam

The Mt. Morris Dam was built between 1948 and 1952 by the Buffalo District office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The project was authorized by the United States Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1944 at a cost of $25 million.^[2]

Prior to the construction of the dam, the Genesee River Valley and the city of Rochester had experienced periodic flooding.^[3] The flood of 1865, which developed flows exceeding 24 million U.S. gallons (91 megaliters) per minute, resulted in massive destructions with flows equating to half the flows of Niagara Falls. Severe floods occurred every seven years on average between 1865 and 1950.^[2] Prior projects in Rochester, including retaining walls and a deepening of the river, were insufficient to stop a major flood event.^[3]

The USACE states that, in the years since the completion of the dam, an estimated $1 billion in flooding damages have been prevented.^[2] In June 1972, Hurricane Agnes passed over the Genesee Valley, causing over 7 inches of rain to fall across the entire valley in a short period of time.^[3] The water inflow due to Hurricane Agnes exceeded the storage capacity of the reservoir and it was necessary to release water through the gates of the dam, causing minor downstream flooding. These releases were made to prevent overtopping of the spillway. Had the spillway overtopped, accumulated debris in the reservoir would have passed downstream, causing log jams and additional damage. Inflows of this magnitude are only expected to happen an average of every 300 years.^[2] An estimated $210 million in damages was prevented by the dam during the storm.^[2]

June 2002 commemorated the 50th anniversary of the completion of Mount Morris Dam. A celebration and dedication of the commemorative kiosk was held to honor and recognize the men and women employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District and Mount Morris Dam Builders, 1948–1952. The kiosk rests on a foundation of bricks, each of which is inscribed with the name and occupation of the builders.^[2]

The William B. Hoyt II Visitor Center at Mount Morris Dam, opened by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1999, was built to accommodate the thousands of people who visit the dam each year. This 5,400-square-foot (500 m²) center features a large atrium, museum, theater and public restroom facilities.^[2]

General
Distance from mouth of Genesee River: 67 miles (108 km).
Drainage area above dam: 1,075 sq mi (2,780 km²).
Drainage area below dam: 1,391 sq mi (3,600 km²).

Dam
Type: Concrete Gravity/Dry.
Total length: 1,028 ft (313 m).
Top width: 20 ft (6.1 m).
Maximum height above river bed: 230 ft (70 m).
Top elevation: 790 ft (240 m) above sea level.

Spillway
Total length: 550 ft (170 m).
Crest elevation: 760 ft (230 m).

Reservoir
Length in River Miles: 17 miles (27 km) at Maximum flood control pool.
Water Surface Elevation: 760 ft (230 m) above sea level at Maximum flood control pool.
Storage Volume: 301,853 acre-feet (372,330,000 m³) at Maximum flood control pool.

Outlet Works
Type: Rectangular conduits.
Location: Base of spillway.

• List of reservoirs and dams in New York

•   Media related to Mount Morris Dam at Wikimedia Commons
• Mount Morris Dam and Recreational Area - official site
• Mt. Morris Dam construction photo
• NYS Parks - Letchworth State Park
• Real-time Genesee River data
• Pieces of the Past: Artifacts, Documents, and Primary Sources from Letchworth Park History