Lake Gaillard East Dike dam
Lake Gaillard East Dike
Lake Gaillard East Dike, also known as Lake Gaillard, is a crucial water resource infrastructure located in North Branford, Connecticut. Owned by a public utility, this dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, with a storage capacity of 53,500 acre-feet and a surface area of 1,110 acres. Completed in 1929, the earth-type dam stands at a height of 22 feet and stretches 1,680 feet in length, contributing to the regulation of a drainage area of 7.5 square miles.
This dam, regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), plays a vital role in ensuring water security for the surrounding area. With a high hazard potential but satisfactory condition assessment as of November 2019, Lake Gaillard East Dike is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and no outlet gates. In case of emergencies, the dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment indicate a moderate risk level, underscoring the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to uphold its safety and functionality.
Situated in the New Haven County of Connecticut and falling under the jurisdiction of the New England District, Lake Gaillard East Dike stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the infrastructure's role in providing essential water supply underscores the need for sustainable management practices and proactive risk mitigation measures to safeguard this critical resource for future generations.
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 Lake Gaillard East Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 88 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 18 cfs | → |
| Indian River Near Clinton | 4 cfs | → |
| Coginchaug River At Middlefield | 16 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 202 cfs | → |
| Connecticut R At Middle Haddam | 41,300 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Gaillard East Dike.
Boat launches
- Hosley Avenue Branford
- Branford River State Boat Launch
- Sackett Point Road North Haven
- Quinnipiac River Front St Boat Ramp
- East River State Boat Launch
- Park Drive New Haven
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
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
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
Track Lake Gaillard East 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 Lake Gaillard East Dike
Where does the data for Lake Gaillard East 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 Lake Gaillard East Dike.