West Branch Naugatuck River Levee dam
West Branch Naugatuck River Levee
The West Branch Naugatuck River Levee, located in Torrington, Connecticut, is a critical infrastructure designed for flood risk reduction along the Naugatuck River. Completed in 1959, this concrete dam stands at a height of 12 feet and spans a length of 4500 feet. Owned by the local government and regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the levee plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
With a high hazard potential and a condition assessment of "Not Rated," the West Branch Naugatuck River Levee requires regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and effectiveness in mitigating flood risks. Despite not having a current emergency action plan assessment or inundation maps prepared, the levee remains a key piece of infrastructure in the region. Furthermore, the presence of locks and gates indicates the levee's capability to manage water levels during emergency situations, highlighting its importance in protecting the community from potential disasters.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts continue to monitor and advocate for sustainable water management practices, the West Branch Naugatuck River Levee stands as an essential component in the region's flood risk reduction efforts. With its strategic location along the Naugatuck River and its critical role in safeguarding the surrounding area from potential flooding, this infrastructure serves as a key example of the importance of proactive measures in ensuring water resource resilience 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 West Branch Naugatuck River Levee -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 4 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 76 cfs | → |
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 24 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 303 cfs | → |
| Still River At Robertsville | 70 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 134 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Branch Naugatuck River Levee.
Boat launches
- Burr Pond
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Winchester Lake
- Highland Lake
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
Campgrounds
- Camp Sequassen
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Camp Workcoeman
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Deep Campsite
- Cozy Hill Campground
Fishing spots
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- 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
- 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 West Branch Naugatuck River Levee 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 West Branch Naugatuck River Levee
Where does the data for West Branch Naugatuck River Levee 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 West Branch Naugatuck River Levee.