Goss Brook Dam Dam
Goss Brook Dam
Goss Brook Dam, located in Ashford, Connecticut, is a privately owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1963. This Earth-type dam stands at a height of 38.5 feet and spans 650 feet in length, with a maximum storage capacity of 530 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 23.9 acres and a drainage area of 1.8 square miles.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Goss Brook Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by state authorities to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type with slide gates for outlet control, and it has been rated as having a high hazard potential with satisfactory condition assessment. Despite the moderate risk level indicated, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk management measures are not explicitly provided in the available data, suggesting potential areas for improvement and further evaluation.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Goss Brook Dam serves as an intriguing site for exploration and study in the realm of dam infrastructure, hydrology, and risk management. With its scenic location along Goss Brook and Joe Courtney (D) as the Congressional representative, the dam offers a unique opportunity to observe the intersection of environmental stewardship, recreational use, and regulatory oversight. As efforts continue to monitor and enhance the dam's safety measures, its role in the local ecosystem and community resilience remains a focal point for ongoing research and engagement.
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 Goss Brook 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 | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 8 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 113 cfs | → |
| Shetucket River Near Willimantic | 109 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Goss Brook 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 Goss Brook Dam
Where does the data for Goss Brook 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 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.