Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike dam
Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike
Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike, located in Waterbury, Connecticut, is a privately owned earth dam constructed in 1868 to regulate the flow of Hitchcock Lake Brook. With a dam height of 4.5 feet and a length of 245 feet, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. The dam's spillway, with a width of 27 feet, is uncontrolled, posing a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in December 2019.
The dam is under the regulatory oversight of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement functions in place. Its association with two other structures under the same NID ID highlights its importance in the local water management system. Despite its age, Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike continues to serve its purpose effectively, with a moderate risk assessment rating of 3 indicating a manageable level of risk.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike presents a fascinating case study in the history and management of water infrastructure. Its location in the scenic New Haven County, surrounded by the beauty of Hitchcock Lake, makes it a significant landmark in the region. As efforts to maintain and upgrade aging dams become increasingly important, understanding the intricate details of structures like Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike is crucial for ensuring the sustainable management of water resources in 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 Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 33 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 222 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 297 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 657 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 54 cfs | → |
| Nonewaug River At Minortown | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike.
Boat launches
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
- Silver Lake
- North Farms Reservoir
- Black Pond
- Beseck Lake
- Batterson Park Pond
Campgrounds
- Black Rock State Park
- Kettletown State Park
- Camp Farnam
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Cozy Hill Campground
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Lake Quassapaug
- Reservoir Number 2
- Seymour Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- 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
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
Track Hitchcock Lake College Place 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 Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike
Where does the data for Hitchcock Lake College Place 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 Hitchcock Lake College Place Dike.