Upper Mill Pond Dam dam
Upper Mill Pond Dam
Upper Mill Pond Dam in Clinton, Connecticut, is a historic masonry dam completed in 1813, standing at a height of 8.2 feet and stretching 82.5 feet in length along the Indian River. The dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene surface area of 16.5 acres and a drainage area of 6.55 square miles. With a storage capacity of 56.1 acre-feet, the dam provides vital water resources for the local community while also enhancing the natural landscape for visitors to enjoy.
Despite its age, Upper Mill Pond Dam has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its current condition as of the last inspection in 1984. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. Located in Middlesex County, the dam is a significant feature along the Indian River, contributing to the local ecosystem and providing a peaceful recreational spot for residents and tourists. While its risk assessment and emergency preparedness measures are not fully documented, the dam continues to be a valued asset for water resource management and climate enthusiasts in the region.
Upper Mill Pond Dam stands as a testament to early American engineering and the importance of water infrastructure in sustaining communities and ecosystems. With its rich history and functional purpose for recreation and water storage, the dam remains a focal point in Clinton, Connecticut, offering a glimpse into the past while supporting present-day needs. As climate change poses challenges to water resources, the maintenance and preservation of dams like Upper Mill Pond are crucial for ensuring sustainable water management and environmental resilience in the face of evolving weather patterns and growing water demands.
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 Upper Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian River Near Clinton | 7 cfs | → |
| East Branch Eightmile River Near North Lyme | 27 cfs | → |
| Eightmile R At North Plain | 22 cfs | → |
| Connecticut R At Middle Haddam | 25,200 cfs | → |
| Coginchaug River At Middlefield | 22 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Near East Hampton | 110 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- East River State Boat Launch
- Cedar Lake
- Main Street Essex
- Kirtland Street Deep River
- Shore Road Old Lyme
- Hadlyme Ferry (Connecticut River)
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 Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
Track Upper Mill Pond 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 Upper Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Upper Mill Pond 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 Low 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 Upper Mill Pond Dam.