Wepawaug Reservoir Dam dam
Wepawaug Reservoir Dam
The Wepawaug Reservoir Dam, located in Orange, Connecticut, was completed in 1911 and serves as a critical water supply structure for the area. This earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and spans a length of 1331 feet, holding a maximum storage capacity of 117 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Wepawaug River and is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), ensuring its proper maintenance and inspection.
With a surface area of 10.9 acres and a drainage area of 7.72 square miles, the Wepawaug Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region. The dam's spillway, with a width of 90 feet, is designed as uncontrolled, allowing for the safe release of excess water during periods of high discharge. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment remains satisfactory, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its structural integrity and safety measures.
As a primary water supply infrastructure, the Wepawaug Reservoir Dam not only provides essential resources for the community but also poses moderate risks that are actively managed to safeguard against potential hazards. With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, this dam stands as a vital component in ensuring a reliable water source for the residents of Orange and surrounding areas, reflecting the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate challenges.
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 Wepawaug Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River At Stevenson | 441 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 202 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 18 cfs | → |
| Rooster River At Fairfield | 4 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 88 cfs | → |
| Pootatuck R At Sandy Hook | 18 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wepawaug Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Main Street Hamden
- Lake Housatonic
- April Street 3, West Haven
- Shipyard Lane Milford
- Huntington Street Shelton
- Quinnipiac River Front St Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
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
- 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
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
Track Wepawaug Reservoir 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 Wepawaug Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Wepawaug Reservoir 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 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 Wepawaug Reservoir Dam.