Furnace Pond dam
Furnace Pond
Furnace Pond, located in Windham, Connecticut, is a picturesque water resource with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1870. This masonry dam stands at a height of 7 feet and has a storage capacity of 56 acre-feet, making it a significant structure for recreation purposes. The pond covers an area of 11 acres and is fed by the scenic Half Hill Brook, providing a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Furnace Pond is regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being deemed as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment is currently not rated. With a spillway width of 35 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 248 cubic feet per second, the dam is equipped to handle potential overflow events and protect downstream areas.
Although the pond's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status and risk assessment details are currently unspecified, Furnace Pond remains a vital water resource for the community of Killingly. With its historical significance, recreational opportunities, and environmental importance, this dam and reservoir complex serves as a key feature in the region's water resource management and climate adaptation efforts.
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 Furnace Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ponaganset River At South Foster | 17 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 559 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 63 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 353 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Hanover | 111 cfs | → |
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 156 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Furnace Pond.
Boat launches
- Squaw Rock Road Killingly
- Hartford Pike Rogers
- North Road 1060, Killingly
- Lovell Lane 50, Canterbury
- Butts Bridge Road Canterbury
- Clarkville Pond
Campgrounds
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Highland Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake 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
- 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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
More reservoirs
Track Furnace Pond 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 Furnace Pond
Where does the data for Furnace Pond 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 Furnace Pond.