Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam dam
Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam
The Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam, located in Ridgefield, Connecticut, is an essential flood control structure designed by the USDA NRCS and completed in 1979. This earth dam, primarily owned by the state, serves the purpose of flood risk reduction along the Ridgefield Brook, with a height of 12 feet and a length of 276 feet. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates help manage water levels in the 134-acre surface area and protect the surrounding area from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Great Swamp Dam is regularly inspected to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a high hazard potential but a satisfactory condition assessment as of October 2018, the dam's risk assessment is rated as moderate. Despite its age, the dam continues to effectively reduce flood risks in the area and plays a crucial role in protecting the local community and environment from excessive water flow and potential damage.
As climate change impacts continue to pose challenges to water resources and increase the frequency of extreme weather events, the Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam remains a crucial infrastructure for maintaining flood resilience in Ridgefield. With state regulation, inspection, and enforcement in place, this dam stands as a vital piece of the flood control system in Connecticut, highlighting the importance of effective water resource management and climate adaptation strategies in safeguarding communities against natural disasters.
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 Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgefield Brook At Shields Lane Nr Ridgefield | 2 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 7 cfs | → |
| Cross River Near Cross River Ny | 7 cfs | → |
| Fivemile River Near New Canaan | 0 cfs | → |
| Titicus River At Purdys Station Ny | 12 cfs | → |
| East Branch Croton River At Brewster Ny | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Kenosia
- Danbury Boat Launch
- Candlewood Lake (Lattins Cove)
- Saugatuck River
- Lake Lillinonah (Pond Brook)
- Maple Way 10, Town Of North Castle
Campgrounds
- Mountain Lakes Park
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Youth Camp Ii
- Youth Camp I
- Youth Camp Iii
- Kettletown State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Track Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 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 Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam
Where does the data for Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 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 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 Great Swamp Fc Aka Norwalk River #2 Dam.