Danbury Dike No. 1 dam
Danbury Dike No. 1
Danbury Dike No. 1 in Connecticut stands as a crucial hydroelectric structure completed in 1929, with a height of 47 feet and the capacity to store up to 172,000 acre-feet of water. Serving primarily for hydroelectric purposes, this earth dam on the Rocky River spans 873 feet and covers a surface area of 5,600 acres. Despite its high hazard potential, the dam lacks a spillway and has not undergone recent condition assessments or emergency action plan updates.
Owned by a public utility, Danbury Dike No. 1 falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission for regulation and inspections. While it boasts a rich history and significant water storage capabilities, the dam's risk assessment remains high due to its age and lack of modern safety features. With associated structures and a notable presence in Fairfield County, this dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and hydroelectric power generation in the region.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Danbury Dike No. 1 presents a fascinating case study of a historic earth dam with immense storage capacity and potential environmental impact. As discussions around infrastructure resilience and climate change adaptation continue, understanding the intricate details and risks associated with structures like this becomes crucial for ensuring sustainable water management practices in the face of evolving climatic conditions.
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 Danbury Dike No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Still River At Route 7 At Brookfield Center | 46 cfs | → |
| East Branch Croton River Near Putnam Lake Ny | 39 cfs | → |
| Ridgefield Brook At Shields Lane Nr Ridgefield | 2 cfs | → |
| East Branch Croton River At Brewster Ny | 48 cfs | → |
| Pootatuck R At Sandy Hook | 17 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Danbury Dike No. 1 .
Boat launches
- Danbury Boat Launch
- Candlewood Lake (Lattins Cove)
- Lake Kenosia
- Old Bogus Road 4, New Fairfield
- Squantz Pond
- Lake Lillinonah
Campgrounds
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
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent 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
Track Danbury Dike No. 1 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 Danbury Dike No. 1
Where does the data for Danbury Dike No. 1 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 Danbury Dike No. 1 .