Brewster Pond Dam dam
Brewster Pond Dam
Located in Lebanon, Connecticut, Brewster Pond Dam is a significant water resource structure primarily designated for recreational purposes. Built in 1854, this earthen dam stands at 13 feet tall and stretches 480 feet in length, creating a surface area of 66.2 acres and a storage capacity of 331 acre-feet. Situated on Bartlett Brook, this dam is under state regulation by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with the State of Connecticut overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement.
Despite its low hazard potential, Brewster Pond Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the local community. The dam has not been rated for its condition, but an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) was last revised in December 2017 to ensure proper preparedness and response in case of any unforeseen events. With a spillway width of 22 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 480 cubic feet per second, this dam serves as a key water resource structure in Litchfield County, Connecticut.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the intricacies of dam infrastructure will find Brewster Pond Dam a fascinating example of historical engineering and the intersection of human development with natural waterways. Its location, design, and purpose provide valuable insights into how water resources are managed and utilized for recreational and environmental conservation purposes in the state of 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 Brewster Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 609 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 774 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 68 cfs | → |
| Salmon Creek At Lime Rock | 38 cfs | → |
| Still River At Robertsville | 83 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Brewster Pond Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Laurel Ridge Campsite
- Belter's Campsites
- Race Brook Campsites
- Sage's Ravine Campground
- Ball Brook Group Camping Area
- Beartown State Forest
Fishing spots
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
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland 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
Track Brewster Pond 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 Brewster Pond Dam
Where does the data for Brewster Pond 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 Low 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 Brewster Pond Dam.