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Peekskill outlines Hollowbrook dam fixes and reservoir management
Summary
Water department staff told the council they plan to widen and raise Hollowbrook dam walls, improve the intake structure, and manage reservoirs seasonally to balance supply and environmental flows.
Dave Rambo of the Water and Sewer Department described significant work at Hollowbrook dam that has already identified unexpected subsurface conditions and requires raising and widening parts of the structure to meet DEC expectations. "We had to widen it somewhat and raise the sides ... we're hoping to design for the next 50 to 100 years," Rambo said.
Rambo said the dam has served the city about 100 years but that modern regulations require higher walls and a wider crest to handle increased stormwater flows. He also described operational steps to avoid unnecessary discharges into the Hudson River and noted reservoir levels vary seasonally; staff generally do not turn on upstream reservoir supplies until late spring or early summer.
Council members asked whether spillway widening and intake improvements would reduce flood risk and how the work is phased with grant timelines. Rambo said portions of the project are staged into 2025–2026 work and that permitting, engineering and construction schedules are tied to grant approvals and weather constraints.
