Kelseytown Reservoir Dam dam
Kelseytown Reservoir Dam
The Kelseytown Reservoir Dam, located in Clinton, Connecticut, is a concrete structure completed in 1895 for the primary purpose of water supply. With a height of 12 feet and a length of 240 feet, the dam sits on the Menunketesuck River and has a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet. The dam is state regulated by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with regular inspections ensuring its satisfactory condition.
The Kelseytown Reservoir Dam holds a significant hazard potential due to its age and location, but its condition assessment remains satisfactory as of the last inspection in October 2019. The dam has a spillway width of 200 feet and a maximum discharge of 1336 cubic feet per second, serving as a crucial water resource for the Middlesex County area. Despite its age, the dam continues to meet water supply needs in the region and plays a vital role in managing water resources in the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Kelseytown Reservoir Dam offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and engineering of water infrastructure in Connecticut. Its presence on the Menunketesuck River provides a vital source of water for the region, highlighting the importance of maintaining and regulating dams for both water supply and environmental protection. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and functionality, it remains a key player in sustainable water management practices in the state.
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 Kelseytown Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Indian River Near Clinton | 7 cfs | → |
| East Branch Eightmile River Near North Lyme | 27 cfs | → |
| Eightmile R At North Plain | 22 cfs | → |
| Connecticut R At Middle Haddam | 25,200 cfs | → |
| Salmon River Near East Hampton | 110 cfs | → |
| Coginchaug River At Middlefield | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kelseytown Reservoir Dam.
⚓ Boat launches
- Cedar Lake
- Kirtland Street Deep River
- Main Street Essex
- Hadlyme Ferry (Connecticut River)
- East River State Boat Launch
- Creamery Road East Haddam
⛺ Campgrounds
More campgrounds →🎣 Fishing spots
More fishing →🛶 Paddle runs
- 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
- 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
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
Track Kelseytown Reservoir 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 Kelseytown Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Kelseytown Reservoir 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 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 Kelseytown Reservoir Dam.