Johnstone Pond Dam dam
Johnstone Pond Dam
Johnstone Pond Dam, nestled in Woodstock, Connecticut, is a private dam situated along the Muddy Brook. With a primary purpose of recreation, this earth dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans 200 feet in length, providing a surface area of 9 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its moderate size, the dam holds significant hazard potential and is under state regulation, inspection, and enforcement by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) in Connecticut.
The dam, owned by a private entity, offers a tranquil spot for outdoor activities in Windham County. Its condition assessment as of December 2020 was deemed satisfactory, but with a significant hazard potential, it requires regular inspections every five years. Although the dam lacks certain features like spillways or outlet gates, it remains a popular spot for visitors seeking recreational opportunities in the area. Johnstone Pond Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible management and maintenance of water resources in the face of climate challenges.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Johnstone Pond Dam a fascinating case study in the intersection of human infrastructure and natural landscapes. As a privately owned recreational facility, the dam presents both opportunities for enjoyment and risks that need to be managed effectively. Its location along the Muddy Brook adds to its charm, while its significant hazard potential underscores the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety of visitors and the surrounding environment. With state regulation and oversight in place, Johnstone Pond Dam stands as a testament to the careful balance required to sustainably utilize and protect 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 Johnstone Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 116 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 29 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 225 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 161 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 432 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Johnstone Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Quaddick Reservoir
- Hartford Pike Rogers
- Bigelow Pond
- Clarkville Pond
- Wallum Lake Road 107, Douglas
- Bowdish Reservoir
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Highland Campground
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
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- 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
Track Johnstone 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 Johnstone Pond Dam
Where does the data for Johnstone 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 Johnstone Pond Dam.