North Meadows Dike Dam
North Meadows Dike
Located in Hartford, Connecticut, the North Meadows Dike is a crucial structure along the Connecticut River designed for flood risk reduction. With a height of 24 feet and a length spanning 16,400 feet, this concrete dam plays a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. The dike is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its fair condition and high hazard potential are managed effectively.
As a local government-owned facility, the North Meadows Dike serves as a key defense against floodwaters in the region, with a primary purpose focused on flood risk reduction. Despite its fair condition assessment, the structure remains a critical component in the overall flood management strategy for Hartford and the surrounding areas. The dam's location on the Connecticut River underscores its importance in safeguarding the community from potential inundation events, highlighting the need for continued oversight and maintenance to uphold its protective capabilities.
With its strategic placement along the Connecticut River and solid design as a concrete dam, the North Meadows Dike stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction measures in the region. As climate change continues to impact water resources and weather patterns, structures like the North Meadows Dike play a vital role in mitigating the potential impacts of flooding on local communities. Through ongoing inspections and regulatory oversight by the DEEP, this essential dike remains a critical asset in protecting Hartford and its residents from the threat of rising waters and ensuring a resilient response to changing environmental conditions.
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 North Meadows Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 4 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 46 cfs | → |
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 11 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 263 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Near West Suffield | 1 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 143 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near North Meadows Dike.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About North Meadows Dike
Where does the data for North Meadows Dike 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 below 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.
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.