Ford Pond Dam dam
Ford Pond Dam
Ford Pond Dam, located in Sharon, Connecticut, was completed in 1880 and serves as a vital resource for fish and wildlife conservation in the area. The earth dam stands at a height of 10.5 feet and spans 400 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 122 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Mill Brook Tributary and is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with regular inspections and enforcement ensuring its safety and functionality.
With a surface area of 17.4 acres and a drainage area of 1.16 square miles, Ford Pond Dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and providing habitat for local wildlife. The dam has a significant hazard potential and is classified as not rated in terms of condition assessment, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. While the dam has not been modified in recent years and lacks an emergency action plan, its strategic location and purpose make it a key asset for water resource management and environmental conservation efforts in the region.
As a privately owned structure, Ford Pond Dam represents a blend of historical significance and contemporary conservation practices. With its primary purpose of supporting fish and wildlife populations, the dam exemplifies the balance between human development and ecosystem protection. Its presence underscores the importance of sustainable water resource management and climate resilience in safeguarding natural habitats for future generations.
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 Ford Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon Creek At Lime Rock | 30 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 536 cfs | → |
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 22 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Gaylordsville | 953 cfs | → |
| Tenmile River Near Gaylordsville | 170 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 423 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ford Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Rudd Drive Town Of North East
- South Kent Road Kent
- Twin Lakes
- Winchester Lake
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Burr Pond
Campgrounds
- Silver Hill Campsite
- Housatonic Meadows State Park
- Sharon Mountain Campsite
- Macedonia Brook State Park
- Belter's Campsites
- Rudd Pond - Taconic State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Ford 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 Ford Pond Dam
Where does the data for Ford 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 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 Ford Pond Dam.