Happy Acres Dam Dam
Happy Acres Dam
Happy Acres Dam, also known as Rychlings Pond, is a privately owned structure located in Ashford, Connecticut. Built in 1973, this earth dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a surface area of 90 acres and a maximum storage capacity of 1000 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 20 feet and spans 230 feet in length, with a controlled spillway and other controlled outlet gates ensuring proper water management.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Happy Acres Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to maintain its satisfactory condition and mitigate its significant hazard potential. The dam holds a very high risk assessment rating (1), prompting a five-year inspection frequency to ensure public safety. While the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and inundation maps are currently unlisted, the structure's operation and maintenance are crucial to prevent any potential risks in the future.
Artfully nestled along Lowry Brook, Happy Acres Dam not only offers a picturesque recreational spot in Windham County but also serves as a vital water resource for the surrounding area. With Joe Courtney (D) representing the district, the dam underscores the importance of proper infrastructure management and risk assessment in the face of climate change and evolving hydrological conditions. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding and advocating for the proper stewardship of structures like Happy Acres Dam is essential in ensuring sustainable water management practices for future generations.
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 Happy Acres Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Hope River Near Warrenville | 4 cfs | → |
| Willimantic River Near Coventry | 32 cfs | → |
| Natchaug River At Willimantic | 73 cfs | → |
| Shetucket River Near Willimantic | 109 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 8 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 113 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Happy Acres Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Happy Acres Dam
Where does the data for Happy Acres 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 below 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.
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.