New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam dam
New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam
New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam, located in New Milford, Connecticut, is a significant earth dam completed in the year 1900 for the primary purpose of recreation. Standing at a height of 17 feet and with a length of 325 feet, the dam holds a normal storage capacity of 84 acre-feet and has a surface area of 12 acres. It is situated on the TOWN FARM BROOK, contributing to a drainage area of 0.78 square miles.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, the dam's condition assessment in 2014 rated it as poor, with a significant hazard potential. The inspection frequency is set at 5 years, and the last inspection took place in October 2014. The dam's spillway width is 25 feet, and it has a maximum discharge capacity of 510 cubic feet per second. While the dam is state-regulated and has state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, there are concerns about its maintenance and overall safety.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam can appreciate its role in providing recreational opportunities in the region. However, the dam's poor condition assessment and significant hazard potential highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure safety and functionality. With ongoing concerns about its structural integrity, the dam serves as a reminder of the need for proper management and oversight of critical water infrastructure in the face of changing climate 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 New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River At Gaylordsville | 991 cfs | → |
| Still River At Route 7 At Brookfield Center | 38 cfs | → |
| Weekeepeemee River At Hotchkissville | 15 cfs | → |
| Tenmile River Near Gaylordsville | 175 cfs | → |
| Nonewaug River At Minortown | 6 cfs | → |
| Pomperaug River At Southbury | 51 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam.
Boat launches
- Grove Street 251, New Milford
- Squantz Pond
- Old Bogus Road 4, New Fairfield
- Lake Lillinonah
- South Kent Road Kent
- Lake Lillinonah (Pond Brook)
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- 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 New Milford Reservoir #4 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 New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam
Where does the data for New Milford Reservoir #4 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 New Milford Reservoir #4 Dam.