Meadow Ridge Detention Dam Dam
Meadow Ridge Detention Dam
Meadow Ridge Detention Dam, located in Redding, Connecticut, serves a crucial role in flood risk reduction within the area. Owned privately, the dam stands at a height of 11 feet and spans a length of 240 feet. Despite its important function, the dam is currently assessed as being in poor condition, with a high hazard potential. The last inspection in July 2020 highlighted the need for improvements to ensure its continued effectiveness in mitigating flood risks.
With a surface area of 1.5 acres, Meadow Ridge Detention Dam operates under the supervision of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). Despite being a privately owned structure, it falls under state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam lacks certain features such as spillways and outlet gates, raising concerns about its ability to manage high discharge levels during extreme weather events. As climate change brings about more frequent and severe storms, maintaining and upgrading the dam to meet modern safety standards is imperative for protecting both property and lives in the surrounding area.
Ensuring the proper functioning and maintenance of Meadow Ridge Detention Dam is crucial for safeguarding the community against flooding risks. With its location in a high hazard potential area, the dam plays a vital role in flood risk reduction efforts. As climate change continues to impact weather patterns, addressing the poor condition of the dam and implementing necessary improvements will be essential in enhancing its resilience and effectiveness in protecting the local environment and residents from the threats posed by extreme weather events.
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 Meadow Ridge Detention Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 8 cfs | → |
| Ridgefield Brook At Shields Lane Nr Ridgefield | 2 cfs | → |
| Norwalk R At South Wilton | 13 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck R Nr Westport | 13 cfs | → |
| Fivemile River Near New Canaan | 0 cfs | → |
| Cross River Near Cross River Ny | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meadow Ridge Detention Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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More reservoirs
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About Meadow Ridge Detention Dam
Where does the data for Meadow Ridge Detention 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 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.