The Bartlett Carry Dam represents a significant responsibility to USF; it’s been our charge to maintain this decades-old structure since it was acquired. Engineering work supported by the USF has provided us with information about substantial repairs that were needed to maintain compliance with state and federal dam safety regulations and secure the dam’s integrity for the future.
The USF initiated a fundraising campaign in 2022. Funding was supported primarily from shore owners allowing for the initiation of the repairs. The USF is working in conjunction with the NYSDEC Dam Safety in a cooperative effort to restore the Bartlett Carry Dam.
Preparation included planning, hiring an engineer, performing tests and analysis, surveying, developing engineering plans, obtaining permits and easements, upgrading access, developing proposal requests, reviewing contractor qualifications, and awarding bids. Permits and approvals that took over a year to obtain were obtained from the Adirondack Park Agency, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) Dam Safety, NYSDEC Lands & Forest, the Town of Harrietstown, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The dam renovation project began in the fall of 2023 and continued throughout the summer of 2024. It is anticipated to conclude by late fall of 2024.
The installation of a coffer dam across the spillways diverted water away from the work areas. The repairs focused on addressing significant leakage, enhancing stability, and preventing further structural failure and deterioration. Work included demolishing and removing the abandoned powerhouse, sealing the upstream and downstream walls with up to 18 inches of concrete, raising and reinforcing the abutment and cutoff walls, and stabilizing the downstream discharge channels.
When the dam’s $2 million restoration is complete the USF will have significantly enhanced the dam’s long-term safety and security, reducing the risk of flooding and property damage in downstream areas, including the village of Saranac Lake. We’ve shifted from reactive emergency repairs, like those in the spring of 2018, to a more proactive and cost-effective approach. All work is overseen by our engineer and complies with regulations from the NYS DEC Office of Dam Safety and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
