West Side Flood Control Dam #5 dam
West Side Flood Control Dam #5
Located in South Norfolk, Connecticut, West Side Flood Control Dam #5, also known as Blackberry Flood Control Site #5, was completed in 1970 by the USDA NRCS. This earth dam, standing at 20 feet high and stretching 730 feet in length, serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Spaulding Brook. With a storage capacity of 1780 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 3000 cubic feet per second, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Owned and regulated by the state of Connecticut, West Side Flood Control Dam #5 is inspected every two years and has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition. With a high hazard potential attributed to its location and purpose, the dam's risk assessment stands at a moderate level. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet the necessary safety guidelines and is equipped with an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates. The presence of Natural Resources Conservation Service as the designer ensures that the dam's construction and maintenance uphold the highest standards.
West Side Flood Control Dam #5 not only serves as a critical infrastructure for flood control in Litchfield County, but also highlights the collaboration between state and federal agencies in protecting communities from water-related disasters. As climate change continues to pose challenges to water resources management, the importance of well-designed and maintained structures like this dam cannot be overstated. With its history of successful operation and ongoing regulatory oversight, West Side Flood Control Dam #5 stands as a testament to the commitment to safeguarding lives and properties from the impacts of extreme weather events.
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 West Side Flood Control Dam #5 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 774 cfs | → |
| Still River At Robertsville | 83 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 609 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 140 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 68 cfs | → |
| Salmon Creek At Lime Rock | 38 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Side Flood Control Dam #5.
Boat launches
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Winchester Lake
- Highland Lake
- Burr Pond
- Twin Lakes
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Belter's Campsites
- White Pines Campsites
- Camp Workcoeman
- Camp Sequassen
- Sharon Mountain Campsite
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
Fishing spots
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Quassapaug
- Squantz Pond
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track West Side Flood Control Dam #5 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 West Side Flood Control Dam #5
Where does the data for West Side Flood Control Dam #5 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 West Side Flood Control Dam #5.