Bunnells Pond Dam dam
Bunnells Pond Dam
Bunnells Pond Dam, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is a state-owned structure on the Pequonnock River that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1906, this earth dam stands at a height of 32.6 feet and has a storage capacity of 800 acre-feet. With a surface area of 36.8 acres and a drainage area of 23.9 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its age, the Bunnells Pond Dam is regularly inspected and deemed to be in fair condition, with a high hazard potential. The dam has a spillway width of 150 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 12,000 cubic feet per second. While there have been no major modifications to the structure in recent years, the state regulatory agency, DEEP, ensures that the dam meets safety standards and is inspected every two years to prevent any potential risks or emergencies.
In the event of an emergency, the dam has an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, although it was last revised in 2015. Overall, Bunnells Pond Dam remains a vital component of the local water infrastructure, providing both recreational opportunities and essential water resource management for the community.
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 Bunnells Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster River At Fairfield | 4 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Fairfield | 5 cfs | → |
| Sasco Brook Near Southport | 4 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck R Nr Westport | 22 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 16 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Stevenson | 463 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bunnells Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Housatonic River State Boat Launch
- Huntington Street Shelton
- Shipyard Lane Milford
- Lake Housatonic
- Hillspoint Road Westport
- Saugatuck River
Campgrounds
- Youth Camp Iii
- Youth Camp Ii
- Youth Camp I
- Kettletown State Park
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Mountain Lakes Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Bunnells Pond Dam 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 Bunnells Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bunnells Pond Dam 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 High 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 Bunnells Pond Dam.