Richards dam
Richards
Richards is a privately owned dam located in Marshfield, Vermont, along the Winooski River. Constructed in 1969 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam serves primarily for recreation purposes and stands at a height of 15 feet with a length of 235 feet. It has a storage capacity of 115 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 16 acres, with a drainage area of 1.07 square miles.
The dam is regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation and undergoes regular inspections, with its last assessment conducted in November 2020, resulting in a satisfactory condition assessment. Despite its significant hazard potential, the risk assessment for Richards is moderate, with emergency action plans and inundation maps yet to be prepared. With a spillway type classified as uncontrolled, the dam's risk management measures and potential risk characterization require further attention to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment.
Richards' location within the New England District and its impact on the local ecosystem and community make it a crucial focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts. As efforts continue to enhance the dam's safety and resilience, its significance in the region's water management and recreational activities underscores the importance of sustainable infrastructure development and proactive risk mitigation strategies.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Richards -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 606 cfs | → |
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 38 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 3,860 cfs | → |
| Passumpsic River At Passumpsic | 5,600 cfs | → |
| Sleepers River (Site W-5) Near St. Johnsbury | 806 cfs | → |
| East Orange Branch At East Orange | 91 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Richards.
Boat launches
- Molly's Pond Boat Launch
- Peacham Pond Boat Ramp
- G A R Road 285, Calais
- Nelson Pond Road Woodbury
- North Pond Road Walden
- Justa Road Calais
Campgrounds
- New Discovery State Park
- Big Deer State Park
- Stillwater State Park
- Ricker Pond State Park
- Sugar Ridge Rv Resort
- Elmore State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
Track Richards in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Richards
Where does the data for Richards come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Richards.