Beach Pond Dam dam
Beach Pond Dam
Beach Pond Dam, located in Voluntown, Connecticut, is a state-regulated earth dam constructed in 1885 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans a length of 350 feet, impounding a maximum storage capacity of 5,800 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 4,100 acre-feet. Situated on the Pachaug River, the dam has a significant hazard potential with a fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in October 2018.
With a drainage area of 4.98 square miles, Beach Pond Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, with a surface area of 459 acres and a maximum discharge capacity of 365 cubic feet per second. Despite its age, the dam is regularly inspected by state authorities, with a mandated inspection frequency of 5 years. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in September 1982, highlighting the need for updated risk assessment and management measures in the face of changing climate conditions and potential hazards.
Surrounded by the natural beauty of the New London County in Connecticut, Beach Pond Dam offers not only recreational opportunities but also serves as a vital infrastructure for flood control and water storage. As climate change intensifies, the resilience and sustainability of this historic dam will be essential in ensuring the safety and well-being of the surrounding communities. With proper maintenance and risk assessment, Beach Pond Dam can continue to stand as a testament to the intersection of human engineering and environmental stewardship.
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 Beach Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Wood River Near Arcadia | 36 cfs | → |
| Pendleton Hill Brook Near Clarks Falls | 4 cfs | → |
| Wood River At Hope Valley | 76 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Jewett City | 766 cfs | → |
| Nooseneck River At Nooseneck | 9 cfs | → |
| Beaver River Near Usquepaug | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Beach Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Beach Pond
- Beachdale Pond
- Glasgo Pond State Boat Launch
- Jeffrey Lane Griswold
- Wyassup Lake
- Butts Bridge Road Canterbury
Campgrounds
- Mystic Koa Holiday
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Highland Campground
- 315 - Burlingham
- Camp Hoffman
- Camp Watchaug (Westerly Ymca)
Fishing spots
Track Beach 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 Beach Pond Dam
Where does the data for Beach 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 Beach Pond Dam.