Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam dam
Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam
Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam, formerly known as Asylum Reservoir #2, is a significant earth dam located in Middletown, Connecticut, completed in 1879. Owned and regulated by the state, this dam serves the primary purpose of water supply. With a height of 15 feet and a length of 475 feet, it has a storage capacity of 154 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 14.25 acres.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a width of 30 feet, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 880 cubic feet per second. Despite being deemed to have a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment in 2014 rated it as satisfactory. The dam is inspected every 7 years, with the last inspection conducted in November 2014. In terms of risk assessment, it falls under the moderate category with a risk level of 3.
Located in Middlesex County, the Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. Its sturdy structure and satisfactory condition make it an essential piece of infrastructure for ensuring water supply and mitigating potential risks associated with its operation. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find this dam to be a fascinating example of engineering ingenuity and environmental stewardship in action.
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 Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut R At Middle Haddam | 43,400 cfs | → |
| Coginchaug River At Middlefield | 18 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Near East Hampton | 106 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 98 cfs | → |
| Eightmile R At North Plain | 20 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam.
Boat launches
- Crystal Lake
- Dooley Pond
- Main Street 204, Cromwell
- Haddam Meadows (Connecticut River)
- Sunrise Road East Haddam
- Beseck Lake
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Toms Creek
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Wintergreen
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- 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
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Asylum Reservoir #5 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 Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam
Where does the data for Asylum Reservoir #5 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 Asylum Reservoir #5 Dam.