Photo By Kaylee Wendt | Personnel from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District replace a large sump...... read more read more
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District continues to invest in critical upgrades at Mount Morris Dam to ensure the structure remains reliable for decades to come. One of the most important improvements currently underway is the replacement of a large sump pump system, an essential component that helps keep the dam operating safely.
While it may sound like a small piece of equipment, this pump plays a big role in the dam’s ability to manage water and reduce flood risk for communities downstream.
A sump pump is designed to remove unwanted water from areas where it collects. Many homeowners are familiar with sump pumps because they often sit in a basement, pumping water away from a home’s foundation to prevent flooding.
The sump pump at Mount Morris Dam works on the same basic principle, but on a much larger scale. Instead of protecting a single basement, the dam’s sump pump system removes water that collects in internal drainage areas and structural spaces within the dam. By pumping this water away, the system helps keep the dam’s internal components dry and functioning properly.
“Projects like this are about staying ahead of potential problems,” said Mike Ferrari an Engineering Technician with the New York/Pennsylvania Operations and Maintenance Section of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District. “By replacing aging equipment before it fails, we’re helping ensure the dam continues operating safely and reliably for the communities that depend on it.”
Mount Morris Dam is a key piece of flood risk management infrastructure for the Genesee River Valley. Since construction, the dam has prevented over $4.5 billion dollars in flood damage! By controlling water levels during major storms and snowmelt, the dam helps reduce the risk of flooding for communities downstream.
The sump pump system supports this mission by ensuring that water does not accumulate where it shouldn’t inside the structure. If water were allowed to collect unchecked, it could interfere with equipment, create maintenance challenges, and potentially affect how the dam operates.
In other words, the sump pump helps keep the entire system running smoothly, especially during the high-water events when the dam’s flood risk management role is most critical.
Replacing aging equipment before it fails is a key part of maintaining safe and reliable infrastructure.
"Critical infrastructure like the Mount Morris Dam relies on many systems working together, including components deep inside the dam that the public won't ever see," said Steve Winslow, Manager of the Mount Morris Dam. "Replacing the sump pumps ensures water that squeezes into the dam through pressure relief wells is properly evacuated from the dam. That's a really important function that prevents chambers within the dam from flooding!"
The sump pump replacement is just one part of several renovation projects underway at Mount Morris Dam. These improvements are part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ ‘Building Infrastructure Not Paperwork’ initiative which focuses on accelerating maintenance and modernization work on critical infrastructure across the nation.
By reducing administrative delays and prioritizing real, on-the-ground improvements, the initiative allows projects like this one to move forward more efficiently, ensuring dams, locks, and other structures continue serving the public.
At Mount Morris Dam, that means investing in the systems that may not always be visible but are vital to keeping the dam operating safely.
Every component of the dam, from the largest spillway gate to a sump pump hidden inside the structure, plays a role in protecting communities from flooding.
By replacing aging equipment and modernizing key systems, the Buffalo District is ensuring that the Mount Morris Dam continues fulfilling its mission of flood risk management.
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2026 12:52 |
| Story ID: | 559485 |
| Location: | MOUNT MORRIS, NEW YORK, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Modernizing Mount Morris Dam: New Pump System Supports Dam Operations, by Kaylee Wendt, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
