Sterling Pond Dam dam
Sterling Pond Dam
Sterling Pond Dam, located in Sterling, Connecticut, was completed in 1870 and serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community. The dam, standing at a height of 18.5 feet and with a length of 1010 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet, with a normal storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. The dam is primarily used for recreation purposes and is classified as a masonry type structure with a spillway width of 187 feet.
Despite its age, Sterling Pond Dam is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure its structural integrity. The last inspection in November 2020 found the dam to be in satisfactory condition, with a high hazard potential due to its location on the Moosup River. The dam is under state regulation by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement procedures in place to mitigate risks associated with its operation.
In the event of an emergency, the dam has a valve outlet gate for controlled water release. While the dam presents a moderate risk level, measures are in place to manage potential hazards effectively. With its historical significance and importance for recreation in the area, Sterling Pond Dam continues to be a key feature of the local landscape while also ensuring the safety and well-being of nearby communities and the environment.
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 Sterling Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ponaganset River At South Foster | 11 cfs | → |
| Wood River Near Arcadia | 44 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Jewett City | 1,160 cfs | → |
| Nooseneck River At Nooseneck | 11 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Hanover | 50 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sterling Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Squaw Rock Road Killingly
- Lovell Lane 50, Canterbury
- Butts Bridge Road Canterbury
- Beachdale Pond
- Beach Pond
- Jeffrey Lane Griswold
Campgrounds
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Highland Campground
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Mystic Koa Holiday
- Camp Hoffman
Fishing spots
Track Sterling Pond 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 Sterling Pond Dam
Where does the data for Sterling Pond 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 Sterling Pond Dam.