DRYDEN, NY – Today, Senator Webb and Assemblymember Kelles hosted a press conference with local officials and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to discuss the status of efforts to replace the Dryden Lake Dam and to applaud the DEC’s $3 million investment in the community. 

Said Senator Lea Webb, “Protecting our natural ecosystems is vital to the continued health and well-being of our planet and ourselves. My colleague Assemblymember Kelles and I have worked with local officials and the DEC to address the necessary repairs for quite some time now. I deeply appreciate the Department of Environmental Conservation’s willingness to replace Dryden Lake Dam, which is essential to maintaining equilibrium in the local ecosystem. I am looking forward to the continued progress and repairs.” 

“Dryden Lake and its surrounding wetlands support abundant waterfowl and songbirds, provide an essential breeding and feeding habitat for amphibians and fish, and has developed a unique and extensive rooted aquatic vegetation. While the lake was originally formed by the installation of the dam, its removal would be detrimental to these critically important wetlands,” stated Assemblymember Anna Kelles. “The future of this 100-acre lake depends on maintaining and modernizing the dam. I am grateful to the DEC for supporting the community and investing $3 million to replace the dam infrastructure, and to Senator Webb, our local officials, and the residents whose advocacy helped protect both this important ecosystem and a place that means so much to Dryden.”

“This isn’t about replacing a dam; it’s about saving a lake,” stated Dan Lamb, Dryden’s deputy supervisor. “Losing Dryden Lake would have been devastating to our town and surrounding communities. Dryden is profoundly grateful to Senator Webb, Assemblymember Kelles, and the DEC for working together to preserve this vital asset.”

“Investing in New York State’s vintage dam infrastructure protects communities,” said Department of Environmental Conservation Region 7 Director Dereth Glance. “DEC’s dam safety program assesses the condition of dams throughout the state to help keep the public safe. Thanks to the leadership of Governor Kathy Hochul and the NYS legislature, the Dryden Dam replacement protects downstream communities and preserves the valued community recreational asset of Dryden Lake.”

Dryden Lake was created in the 1800s when the original dam was installed to power a sawmill, making the area a center for the lumber industry. The lake is an essential part of the community, serving as a gathering space for residents and visitors, a wildlife refuge, a fishery, a bird habitat, and a recreation hub. The town worked with New York State in 1997 to establish Dryden Lake Park, though the DEC manages the rest of the Dryden Lake Multiple Use Area, including the Dryden Lake Dam. 

The replacement of the Dryden Lake Dam is the result of sustained advocacy and coordination between state and local leaders. After concerns were raised about the condition of the dam and continued water loss from Dryden Lake, Senator Lea Webb and Assemblymember Kelles worked directly with the Village of Dryden and the DEC to elevate the issue and push for a path forward.

Recognizing the importance of Dryden Lake to the surrounding ecosystem and community, Senator Webb and Assemblymember Kelles maintained ongoing conversations with DEC and local officials, advocating for the necessary state attention and resources to address the dam. Their efforts helped keep the project moving through the state process and ensured that Dryden residents’ concerns were part of those discussions.

The finalized replacement plans represent an important step toward preserving Dryden Lake and protecting the wildlife habitat, water quality, recreation, and community resources the lake provides. The DEC has stated publicly that they anticipate soliciting bids for the project in the coming months, with a likely award date before the end of 2026.

DEC classifies each dam in the state with a hazard rating that indicates the level of threat to downstream communities in the event of dam failure and also assesses its current condition. The Dryden Lake Dam is classified as a Class B Intermediate Hazard Dam; under the NYSDEC Dam Safety Program, this is a structure where failure may cause significant economic or environmental damage, but loss of human life is not expected. The current configuration of the dam does not meet spillway capacity standards, and the dam’s timber structure is in poor condition and is leaking.

The updated structure will be constructed out of concrete, and DEC will utilize NY Works Capital Program funding to help pay for the new dam. To learn more about DEC’s commitment to dam safety, how the DEC manages dams throughout the state, and how the DEC helps to fund dam improvements and replacements, check out the latest episode of the DEC Does What? podcast.

Photos from this event are available here. Video from this event is available here. 

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