Samuel P. Senior Dam dam
Samuel P. Senior Dam
Samuel P. Senior Dam, also known as Saugatuck Reservoir, is a concrete dam located in Westport, Connecticut, along the Saugatuck River. Completed in 1941, this dam serves as a critical water supply infrastructure for the region, with a storage capacity of 42,000 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 36,800 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 130 feet and stretches 990 feet in length, with a maximum discharge capacity of 15,600 cubic feet per second.
This dam is owned and regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with a high hazard potential due to its location and storage capacity. Despite the potential risks, the dam's condition assessment as of June 2019 was deemed satisfactory, and it undergoes regular inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety measures are up to standard. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 299 feet and utilizes slide gates as its outlet mechanism.
With its crucial role in providing water supply for the area, Samuel P. Senior Dam stands as a significant piece of infrastructure that requires meticulous monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks and ensure the safety of nearby communities. As a key component in the region's water resource management system, this dam represents a balance between the benefits of water supply and the risks associated with high hazard potential, highlighting the importance of proactive risk management measures and emergency preparedness protocols.
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 Samuel P. Senior Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 8 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck R Nr Westport | 27 cfs | → |
| Norwalk R At South Wilton | 18 cfs | → |
| Sasco Brook Near Southport | 5 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Fairfield | 7 cfs | → |
| Rooster River At Fairfield | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Samuel P. Senior Dam.
Boat launches
- Saugatuck River
- Hillspoint Road Westport
- Roosevelt Road Westport
- Huntington Street Shelton
- Lake Kenosia
- Housatonic River State Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Youth Camp Ii
- Youth Camp Iii
- Youth Camp I
- Mountain Lakes Park
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Kettletown State 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 Samuel P. Senior 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 Samuel P. Senior Dam
Where does the data for Samuel P. Senior 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 Samuel P. Senior Dam.