South Norwalk Reservoir Dike dam
South Norwalk Reservoir Dike
The South Norwalk Reservoir Dike, also known as City Lake, is a vital water supply infrastructure located in Wilton, Connecticut. Built in 1899, this earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans a length of 500 feet, with a storage capacity of 3,180 acre-feet. The reservoir serves as a key component in the local water supply system, with a normal storage capacity of 1,950 acre-feet and a surface area of 155 acres.
Managed by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in Connecticut, the South Norwalk Reservoir Dike is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. With a high hazard potential, the dam is classified as having a satisfactory condition assessment as of July 2015. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in June 2019, ensuring that proper guidelines and measures are in place in case of any unforeseen incidents.
Located on Parting Brook and falling under the jurisdiction of the New England District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, the South Norwalk Reservoir Dike plays a crucial role in ensuring a reliable water supply for the region. With its historical significance and continued maintenance and oversight by state agencies, this dam serves as a critical infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Fairfield County, Connecticut.
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 South Norwalk Reservoir Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Norwalk R At South Wilton | 10 cfs | → |
| Fivemile River Near New Canaan | 0 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck R Nr Westport | 18 cfs | → |
| Sasco Brook Near Southport | 3 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 6 cfs | → |
| Rippowam River At Stamford | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Norwalk Reservoir Dike.
Boat launches
- Saugatuck River
- Hillspoint Road Westport
- Roosevelt Road Westport
- Maple Way 10, Town Of North Castle
- Seagate Road 3, Greenwich
- Lake Kenosia
Campgrounds
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Mountain Lakes Park
- Youth Camp Ii
- Youth Camp Iii
- Youth Camp I
- Kettletown State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug 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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track South Norwalk Reservoir Dike 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 South Norwalk Reservoir Dike
Where does the data for South Norwalk Reservoir Dike 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 South Norwalk Reservoir Dike.