Middle Reservoir Dam dam
Middle Reservoir Dam
Middle Reservoir Dam, located in Ansonia, Connecticut, is a historic masonry structure completed in 1890 for the primary purpose of water supply. Owned by a public utility, this dam stands at a height of 35 feet and has a length of 290 feet, with a storage capacity of 36 acre-feet. Situated on Beaver Brook in New Haven County, it is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), ensuring its compliance with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement requirements.
With a significant hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of November 2019, Middle Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the region. Its maximum discharge capacity reaches 132 cubic feet per second, and it covers a surface area of 3 acres with a drainage area of 0.68 square miles. The dam is equipped with a spillway width of 29 feet, although no outlet gates are reported. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve as a vital infrastructure for water storage and distribution in the area.
As a key component of the local water supply system, Middle Reservoir Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure to ensure the safety and reliability of water resources in the face of changing climate conditions. Its historical significance, coupled with its functional role in managing water flow and storage, underscores the need for continued vigilance and investment in the upkeep of critical dams to mitigate risks and adapt to evolving climate challenges.
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 Middle Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 657 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Stevenson | 495 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 54 cfs | → |
| Pomperaug River At Southbury | 121 cfs | → |
| Pootatuck R At Sandy Hook | 43 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 297 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Middle Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Housatonic
- Main Street Hamden
- Huntington Street Shelton
- April Street 3, West Haven
- Sackett Point Road North Haven
- Quinnipiac River Front St Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Quillinan Reservoir
- Fountain Lake Reservoir
- Picketts Pond
- Lake Housatonic
- Carrington Pond
- Lake Wintergreen
Paddle runs
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- 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
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Middle Reservoir 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 Middle Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Middle Reservoir 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 Middle Reservoir Dam.