South Flood Control Dike Dam
South Flood Control Dike
The South Flood Control Dike, also known as South Branch Park River Site 3, is a crucial infrastructure in West Hartford, Connecticut, designed for flood risk reduction. This earth dam stands at a height of 20 feet and stretches 400 feet in length. Managed by the state regulatory agency DEEP, this dike has a high hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in May 2015.
Located in Hartford County, Connecticut, this flood control dike is state-regulated and permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). With its primary purpose being flood risk reduction, the South Flood Control Dike plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential inundation during heavy rainfall or storm events. Despite its importance in mitigating flood risks, the dam currently does not have a designated year of completion or associated storage capacity.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, keeping a close eye on the maintenance and potential upgrades of the South Flood Control Dike is crucial to ensure its continued effectiveness in protecting the community from flooding events. With a high hazard potential, regular inspections and risk assessments are essential in maintaining the dike's structural integrity and functionality in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing flood risks in the region.
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 South Flood Control Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 4 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 143 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 1 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 46 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 10 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 263 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Flood Control Dike.
Boat launches
See all →
Campgrounds
See all →
Fishing spots
See all →
River runs
See all →
About South Flood Control Dike
Where does the data for South Flood Control Dike 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.