Upper Shepaug Dam dam
Upper Shepaug Dam
The Upper Shepaug Dam, also known as Cairns Reservoir, is a vital water supply structure located in Warren, Connecticut. This earth dam stands at a height of 87 feet and has a length of 1000 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 14,740 acre-feet. Completed in 1965, this dam plays a crucial role in managing the water resources of the region, with a normal storage capacity of 14,740 acre-feet and a surface area of 430 acres.
Owned by the local government and regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Upper Shepaug Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential, the dam is considered to be in satisfactory condition as of the last assessment in October 2020. The dam's primary purpose is water supply, serving as a key component in meeting the water needs of the community in Litchfield County.
Situated on the West Branch Shepaug River, the Upper Shepaug Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources and maintaining water supply in the region. With its significant storage capacity and strategic location, this dam is a key asset for ensuring water security and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions. Climate and water resource enthusiasts will find the Upper Shepaug Dam's design and operational details fascinating, showcasing the importance of effective dam management in mitigating water-related risks and ensuring sustainable water supply for the community.
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 Upper Shepaug Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 22 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Gaylordsville | 953 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 72 cfs | → |
| Tenmile River Near Gaylordsville | 170 cfs | → |
| Nonewaug River At Minortown | 5 cfs | → |
| Weekeepeemee River At Hotchkissville | 12 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Upper Shepaug Dam.
Boat launches
- South Kent Road Kent
- Winchester Lake
- Burr Pond
- Grove Street 251, New Milford
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
- Highland Lake
Campgrounds
- Cozy Hill Campground
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Lake Waramaug State Park
- Silver Hill Campsite
- Housatonic Meadows State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- 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
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Upper Shepaug 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 Upper Shepaug Dam
Where does the data for Upper Shepaug 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 High 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 Upper Shepaug Dam.