Chase Reservoir Dam dam
Chase Reservoir Dam
Nestled in Killingly, Connecticut, the Chase Reservoir Dam stands as a testament to early engineering prowess, having been completed in 1870. Despite its age, this Earth dam remains a vital water resource, primarily used for recreation purposes. With a height of 13 feet and a length of 700 feet, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 240 acre-feet, serving a drainage area of 1.29 square miles.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the dam's condition is assessed as fair with a significant hazard potential. The spillway, categorized as uncontrolled, features a width of 30 feet, ensuring the safe discharge of excess water. Although the dam has undergone modifications over the years, it continues to be a focal point for water enthusiasts and climate advocates alike, offering a picturesque backdrop for outdoor activities.
As climate change continues to impact water resources worldwide, the Chase Reservoir Dam serves as a crucial infrastructure for managing water levels and ensuring public safety. With regular inspections and a moderate risk assessment rating, efforts are underway to enhance the dam's risk management measures. The dam's historical significance, combined with its practical utility, underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of evolving environmental 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 Chase Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 491 cfs | → |
| Ponaganset River At South Foster | 7 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 38 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 319 cfs | → |
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 125 cfs | → |
| Peeptoad Brook At Elmdale Rd Nr North Scituate | 2 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chase Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- North Road 1060, Killingly
- Hartford Pike Rogers
- Squaw Rock Road Killingly
- Clarkville Pond
- Bowdish Reservoir
- Quaddick Reservoir
Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Highland Campground
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Chase 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 Chase Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Chase 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 Chase Reservoir Dam.