The New York State Canal Corporation began lowering Lake Moraine in Madison County, New York, to a target of 10 feet below the spillway crest on March 28, 2026, and reached that level by May 5, 2026. The drawdown is part of a multi‑year rehabilitation of the 190‑year‑old Madison Reservoir Dam, which will see a new concrete labyrinth spillway and a siphon outlet replace the existing structures.
The dam, erected in 1836 to supply water to the Chenango Canal, once fed a 97‑mile waterway linking Binghamton and Utica before the canal was abandoned in 1878. Though the canal system is long gone, the dam remains under the jurisdiction of the Canal Corporation and is still used to manage seasonal recreation on what locals now call Lake Moraine.
Construction will unfold in two phases: first, crews will install a low‑level siphon outlet and reinforce the earthen embankments, raising the crest by less than a foot in targeted areas; second, the current concrete spillway will be demolished and replaced with a larger labyrinth design. The project is slated to wrap up in 2028, with the lake staying at the lowered level through December 31, 2027.
Local anglers have warned that the reduced depth will make launching trailered boats more difficult, prompting the Canal Corporation to install a temporary extension at the existing boat launch to accommodate six feet of water. The corporation says the dam is not at imminent risk of failure, but the work is essential to ensure its long‑term safety and to protect the surrounding community.