Powers Lake Dam dam
Powers Lake Dam
Powers Lake Dam, located in East Lyme, Connecticut, is a historic masonry dam completed in 1870 along the Pataguanset River. Serving as a recreational destination, the dam boasts a height of 25 feet and a length of 315 feet, with a storage capacity of 1068 acre-feet. With a surface area of 152.6 acres and a drainage area of 0.96 square miles, Powers Lake Dam provides not only a scenic backdrop but also a crucial water resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, Powers Lake Dam has been assessed as being in poor condition with significant hazard potential. The last inspection in 2018 highlighted the dam's need for maintenance and improvements. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in 1984, raising concerns about its readiness to address potential risks and ensure public safety in case of a failure. With its importance to the local ecosystem and community, efforts to enhance the dam's structural integrity and safety measures are crucial for the sustainable management of this water resource in the face of climate challenges.
As a state-regulated structure within the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Powers Lake Dam is subject to regular inspections, permitting, and enforcement to ensure compliance with safety standards. The dam's location in a high-risk area underscores the importance of proactive risk management measures and updated emergency response plans. With its proximity to residential areas and the potential for downstream impacts in case of a breach, stakeholders must prioritize the maintenance and modernization of Powers Lake Dam to mitigate risks and safeguard the local environment and water resources for future generations.
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 Powers Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Eightmile River Near North Lyme | 34 cfs | → |
| Eightmile R At North Plain | 25 cfs | → |
| Yantic River At Yantic | 146 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Near East Hampton | 130 cfs | → |
| Indian River Near Clinton | 6 cfs | → |
| Shetucket River At Taftville | 1,350 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Powers Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Powers Lake
- Pattagansett Lake
- Rogers Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Horse Pond
- Four Mile River
- Shore Road Old Lyme
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- 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
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Powers Lake 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 Powers Lake Dam
Where does the data for Powers Lake 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 Powers Lake Dam.