Tunnel Dam Hydro Station dam
Tunnel Dam Hydro Station
The Tunnel Dam Hydro Station, also known as Quinebaug River Tunnel Dam #1 Hydro, is a concrete structure located in Preston, Connecticut, along the Quinebaug River. Owned by a public utility, this hydroelectric facility has been in operation since 1906 and serves as a crucial source of renewable energy for the region. With a dam height of 32 feet and a storage capacity of 1650 acre-feet, the station plays a significant role in water resource management and climate mitigation efforts in the area.
Managed by the state regulatory agency DEEP, the Tunnel Dam Hydro Station boasts a spillway width of 443 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 33,940 cubic feet per second. Despite its significant hazard potential, the station has been assessed as being in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection in July 2016. With a moderate risk rating of 3, appropriate risk management measures are in place to ensure the safety and reliability of the facility.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Tunnel Dam Hydro Station represents a prime example of harnessing the power of water for sustainable energy production. Its location along the Quinebaug River, its impressive storage capacity, and its adherence to state regulations make it a valuable asset in the state's renewable energy infrastructure. As efforts to combat climate change continue to gain importance, facilities like the Tunnel Dam Hydro Station play a vital role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting a greener future for generations to come.
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 Tunnel Dam Hydro Station -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shetucket River At Taftville | 1,070 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Jewett City | 1,010 cfs | → |
| Yantic River At Yantic | 101 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Hanover | 42 cfs | → |
| Pendleton Hill Brook Near Clarks Falls | 4 cfs | → |
| Shetucket River Near Willimantic | 736 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Tunnel Dam Hydro Station.
Boat launches
- Amos Lake
- Jeffrey Lane Griswold
- Butts Bridge Road Canterbury
- Glasgo Pond State Boat Launch
- Long Pond
- Jerusalem Road South Windham
Campgrounds
- Highland Campground
- Laurel Lock Camp
- Mystic Koa Holiday
- Youth Site 1
- Youth Site 2
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- 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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Tunnel Dam Hydro Station 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 Tunnel Dam Hydro Station
Where does the data for Tunnel Dam Hydro Station 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 Tunnel Dam Hydro Station.