Allen Reservoir Dam dam
Allen Reservoir Dam
Located in Torrington, Connecticut, the Allen Reservoir Dam stands as a vital structure for water supply purposes, serving as a key component in managing water resources in the region. The dam, made of concrete and standing at a height of 15 feet with a length of 250 feet, holds a normal storage capacity of 22 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 1.7 acres. It is regulated by the state and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its satisfactory condition and mitigate any potential hazards.
Situated on Nickel Mine Brook, the Allen Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in the water management infrastructure of Litchfield County. With a spillway width of 50 feet and a significant hazard potential, the dam is equipped to handle uncontrolled spill events and manage the flow of water in the surrounding area. The dam's risk assessment categorizes it as moderate, with risk management measures in place to address any potential issues that may arise.
Managed by a public utility, the Allen Reservoir Dam is a testament to the proactive measures taken to ensure the safety and efficiency of water resource management in the region. With a history of satisfactory condition assessments and regular inspections, the dam exemplifies the responsible stewardship of water resources and the importance of infrastructure in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and fluctuating weather patterns.
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 Allen Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 33 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 6 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 106 cfs | → |
| Still River At Robertsville | 83 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 140 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 774 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Allen Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Burr Pond
- Winchester Lake
- Highland Lake
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
Campgrounds
- Camp Sequassen
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Camp Workcoeman
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Cozy Hill Campground
- White Pines Campsites
Fishing spots
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Squantz Pond
Paddle runs
- 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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
Track Allen Reservoir 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 Allen Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Allen Reservoir 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 Allen Reservoir Dam.