Kleine Kill Stream Restoration

Restoring the Kleine Kill Stream Corridor

What Happened at Duck Pond Dam?

Duck Pond was created circa 1908 on the Kleine Kill stream by constructing a stacked stone, earthen fill dam with drain valves for managing water levels.

In 2018, the dam’s century-old drainage system failed, reducing the pond’s water level and exposing several severe defects. Water levels began cycling due to a broken drain valve, inlet siltation and rainfall accumulation in the watershed.

An inspection by NYS Department of Environmental Conservation’s Division of Dam Safety identified an unrepairable drain valve, significant water seepage at the toe of the dam, and a critically deteriorating spillway, all of which could lead to impending failure of the dam.

Chuck Reid and Jon Winans investigate Duck Pond Dam in the foreground, behind them Duck Pond drained of most water, Skytop tower and cliff in the background

Mohonk Preserve engaged a professional engineering firm to assess the dam and develop a remediation plan. A multi-year study involving volunteer committee members, staff and board members was completed in 2022. After extensive review and consideration, the Preserve determined that the optimal conservation action is to restore the Kleine Kill stream corridor with upland wet meadows and beaver analogs for ponding.

Rendering of Kleine Kill Restoration by SLR Consulting

What is Happening Now – Manage Water Levels, Re-Vegetate, Monitor, & Restore

In October, the dam’s lower-level outlet drain ceased to flow, requiring the Preserve to install a gravity siphon system to maintain consistent water levels, reducing the hydrostatic pressure on the dam and providing habitat for wildlife
Natural native re-vegetation will be supported through monitoring and invasive plant control
Engineering designs will be developed to create an upland wet meadow with ponds, beaver analogs and a
connected stream, maintain carriage road access and develop educational programmatic sites