Lower Bolton Lake Dam dam
Lower Bolton Lake Dam
Lower Bolton Lake Dam, located in Bolton, Connecticut, serves as a vital recreational resource for water and climate enthusiasts. Built in 1940, this earth dam stands at 20 feet high and spans 1080 feet, creating a storage capacity of 2325 acre-feet along Bolton Pond Brook. The dam has a significant hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in 2015.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Lower Bolton Lake Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, offering a surface area of 176 acres and a maximum discharge of 8400 cubic feet per second. With its close proximity to Quarryville and Joe Courtney's congressional district, the dam serves as a valuable asset for the community and surrounding areas.
Despite its age, Lower Bolton Lake Dam continues to provide essential water storage and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike. With proper maintenance and oversight from DEEP, this dam remains a key component in managing water resources and promoting outdoor activities in Tolland County, Connecticut.
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 Lower Bolton Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 91 cfs | → |
| Willimantic River Near Coventry | 144 cfs | → |
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 18 cfs | → |
| Natchaug River At Willimantic | 179 cfs | → |
| Mount Hope River Near Warrenville | 35 cfs | → |
| Shetucket River Near Willimantic | 435 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Bolton Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Bolton Lake (Lower)
- Coventry Lake
- New State Road Trail Manchester
- Holbrook Pond
- Mono Pond
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
Campgrounds
- Beech Grove 5
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Brialee
- Highland Campground
- Primitve Camping Area
- Laurel Lock Camp
Fishing spots
- Trout Hatchery
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Washington Fishing Area
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Toms Creek
- Twotree Island Channel
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- 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
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Lower Bolton 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 Lower Bolton Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Bolton 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 Lower Bolton Lake Dam.