9 Dec 2025

Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area closes 2025 season with strong attendance and lasting community impact

As the leaves turned along the Genesee River Gorge this fall, the Mount Morris Dam and Recreation Area wrapped up another successful visitor season — one marked by strong attendance, strengthened partnerships and a renewed appreciation for one of the region’s most significant recreational and engineering assets. The Mount Morris Dam spans the Genesee River Gorge, where it has protected downstream communities — including the City of Rochester — from catastrophic flooding for 73 years and prevented an estimated $4.6 billion in flood damages, all while evolving into one of the region’s most distinctive public destinations. Today, it offers a blend of history, sightseeing, wildlife viewing and hands-on educational opportunities that attract visitors from across the Northeast.

7 Mar 2025

Mount Morris Dam Continues History of Flood Risk Prevention

(MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y.) March 7, 2025 – The Mount Morris Dam, built and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, continues to serve as a critical safeguard against flooding in western New York, preventing an estimated $170 million in flood damages in 2024. Located on the Genesee River, at the northern end of Letchworth State Park and just south of Rochester, the dam plays a vital role in flood risk management for communities downstream, protecting over 160,000 residents in the Genesee River 100-Year Flood Plain and more than 200,000 in Rochester. By controlling water flow, the dam helps reduce the risk of severe flooding events that could cause extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure.

6 Dec 2023

Corps of Engineers Rangers Honored for Lifesaving Rescue

Two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers were awarded the Army Civilian Service Achievement Medal for a lifesaving rescue of an elderly hiker on New York’s Finger Lakes Trail. The 71-year-old hiker wandered off the trail in the 4,000-acre Mount Morris Recreation Area in early October and called the Mount Morris Dam for help.