Whigville Reservoir Dam dam
Whigville Reservoir Dam
Whigville Reservoir Dam, located in Burlington, Connecticut, is a historic masonry dam completed in 1909 for water supply purposes. Standing at a height of 58 feet and with a length of 615 feet, the dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and serves as a crucial component of the local water infrastructure. Its primary purpose is to regulate water flow from Whigville Brook, with a normal storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and a drainage area of 4.1 square miles.
Despite its age, the dam has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition according to a recent assessment, with a high hazard potential due to its location. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 40 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 1565 cubic feet per second. Regular inspections, including one conducted in November 2020, ensure its continued safety and functionality. With the dam regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), it plays a vital role in water resource management in the region.
Whigville Reservoir Dam's presence not only contributes to the local water supply but also adds to the historical and environmental significance of the area. With its unique design and continued maintenance, the dam stands as a testament to early engineering achievements and the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of climate challenges. For enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience, Whigville Reservoir Dam serves as a fascinating example of blending past infrastructure with modern-day regulatory practices to ensure the safety and security of communities.
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 Whigville Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Farmington River At Unionville | 259 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 4 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 72 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 13 cfs | → |
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 11 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whigville Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
- Batterson Park Pond
- Riverside Road Simsbury
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Burr Pond
Campgrounds
- Deep Campsite
- Black Rock State Park
- Camp Sequassen
- Camp Workcoeman
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
- Seymour Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- 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
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Whigville 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 Whigville Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Whigville 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 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 Whigville Reservoir Dam.