Quonnipaug Lake Dam dam
Quonnipaug Lake Dam
Quonnipaug Lake Dam, located in Guilford, Connecticut, stands as a testament to the importance of water resource management for recreation purposes. Built in 1850, this masonry dam spans 110 feet in length and reaches a height of 5 feet, holding a storage capacity of 336 acre-feet. Situated on the West River, this dam not only provides a serene recreational spot for visitors but also plays a crucial role in regulating water levels and ensuring the safety of surrounding areas.
Despite its historical significance and primary purpose for recreation, Quonnipaug Lake Dam faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment. With a poor rating and significant hazard potential, it highlights the need for ongoing maintenance and monitoring to uphold safety standards. The dam's last inspection in March 2020 revealed these concerns, prompting a closer look at potential risk management measures and emergency preparedness to safeguard the local community and the environment.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the importance of proactive measures for dam safety cannot be overstated. With Quonnipaug Lake Dam's location in a region represented by Rosa L. DeLauro in the US Congress, collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies is essential for ensuring the resilience and sustainability of this vital water resource. By prioritizing regular inspections, maintenance, and risk assessments, Quonnipaug Lake Dam can continue to serve as a beloved recreational spot while upholding its responsibility to protect the surrounding ecosystem and 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 Quonnipaug Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 94 cfs | → |
| Coginchaug River At Middlefield | 18 cfs | → |
| Indian River Near Clinton | 5 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 19 cfs | → |
| Connecticut R At Middle Haddam | 43,500 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Near East Hampton | 100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Quonnipaug Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- East River State Boat Launch
- North Farms Reservoir
- Hosley Avenue Branford
- Sackett Point Road North Haven
- Dooley Pond
- Beseck Lake
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Toms Creek
- Lake Wintergreen
- Quillinan Reservoir
- Seymour Reservoir Number 1
- Carrington Pond
- Reservoir Number 1
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
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
Track Quonnipaug Lake 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 Quonnipaug Lake Dam
Where does the data for Quonnipaug Lake 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 Quonnipaug Lake Dam.