Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam dam
Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam
Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam, located in Plymouth, Connecticut, serves as a crucial water supply resource for the region. This masonry dam stands at a height of 14 feet and has a length of 240 feet, creating a reservoir with a surface area of 4.1 acres and a drainage area of 5.74 acres. The dam is primarily regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and is classified as having a significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment.
Despite its age and condition, Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam plays a vital role in ensuring water security for the local community. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in August 2017, indicating efforts to maintain safety protocols in case of any unforeseen events. With its location on the Poland River and its critical function in water supply, the dam serves as a key infrastructure asset that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its continued operational integrity.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the complexities of infrastructure like Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam highlights the importance of sustainable water management practices. The dam's significance in providing essential water supply underscores the need for proactive measures to address its poor condition assessment and mitigate potential risks. By staying engaged in the maintenance and regulation of structures like this, we can contribute to the resilience of our water resources in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 76 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 4 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 303 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 12 cfs | → |
| Nonewaug River At Minortown | 6 cfs | → |
| Weekeepeemee River At Hotchkissville | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Batterson Park Pond
- Burr Pond
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Riverside Road Simsbury
Campgrounds
- Black Rock State Park
- Deep Campsite
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Camp Sequassen
- Camp Workcoeman
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
- Seymour Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- 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
- 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
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Bristol Reservoir #3 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 Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam
Where does the data for Bristol Reservoir #3 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 Bristol Reservoir #3 Dam.