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Insight Horizon Media

When was Mt Morris Dam built?

Author

Daniel Johnson

Published Feb 18, 2026

When was Mt Morris Dam built?

1948 to 1952
Mount Morris Dam was authorized by Congress in the Flood Control Act of 1944, and constructed from 1948 to 1952 at a cost of $25 million.

How tall is the Mount Morris Dam?

230 ft

Mount Morris Dam
ImpoundsGenesee River
Height230 ft (70 m)
Length1,028 ft (313 m)

Why was the Mt Morris Dam built?

The US Army Corps of Engineers built the Mount Morris Dam in the late 1940s to reduce flooding on the lower Genesee River. Today, the dam continues to provide flood protection along 67 miles of the Genesee River Valley from the village of Mount Morris to downtown Rochester where the river enters Lake Ontario.

Why is there no water at the Mount Morris Dam?

Why does the Genesee River not flow over the Mt. Morris dam? The Mount Morris Dam was built by the Army Corps of Engineers to help prevent flooding. When river flows exceed the natural capacity of the downstream channel and flood damage is likely to occur, flood waters are stored in the dam’s reservoir.

What does the Genesee River flow?

Genesee River, river mainly in New York state, U.S. The Genesee flows generally north from its headwaters in Pennsylvania, crosses the New York State Canal System, and bisects Rochester to enter Lake Ontario after a course of 158 miles (254 km).

Why is the Genesee River Brown?

A prime source of phosphorus in the portion of the lake near Rochester is the Genesee. The latter, mostly soil that erodes into the river, is what gives the Genesee its characteristic muddy brown color.

Why is the Genesee river so dirty?

It is well documented that the water quality of the Genesee River and its tributaries is compromised by excess phosphorus and suspended solids. The major sources of these pollutants are streambank erosion, effluents from wastewater treatment plants, agriculture, and septic systems.

Is the Genesee river safe to swim in?

The water is treated before use to remove bacteria, impurities, and pollutants. And, contrary to a popular rumor, Genesee beer is not brewed with water from the river, either. “I definitely would not swim in the river all of the time, but jumping in from time to time would be fine, in my opinion.

Can you swim in Genesee River?

This is GREAT for communities along the Genesee River between the dam and Lake Ontario — it prevents economically devastating flooding — but not good for beach swimming. The sediment stirred up by this “extra” water flowing through the Genesee provides conditions that could potentially promote e. coli bacteria.

Is the Genesee River safe to swim in?

Why is the Genesee river Brown?