Quillinan Reservoir Dam dam
Quillinan Reservoir Dam
Quillinan Reservoir Dam, located in Ansonia, Connecticut, is a concrete structure completed in 1880 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 19 feet and stretches 575 feet in length, creating a surface area of 12 acres and serving a drainage area of 2.67 square miles. Despite its historical significance, the dam poses a high hazard potential and has been assessed to be in fair condition as of October 2020.
Managed by the State of Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Quillinan Reservoir Dam is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by state authorities. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 34 feet, posing moderate risks that are closely monitored with a regular inspection frequency of every two years. Although the dam does not have associated locks or outlet gates, its emergency action plan (EAP) was last revised in May 2016, ensuring preparedness for potential hazards.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Quillinan Reservoir Dam represents a historical landmark in Connecticut's water management infrastructure, offering recreational opportunities while facing operational challenges due to its high hazard potential. As efforts continue to monitor and manage the dam's risks, ongoing inspections and risk assessments play a crucial role in maintaining the safety and integrity of this significant structure in the Beaver Brook watershed.
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 Quillinan Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River At Stevenson | 484 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 814 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Hamden | 90 cfs | → |
| Pootatuck R At Sandy Hook | 59 cfs | → |
| Pomperaug River At Southbury | 153 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Wallingford | 382 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Quillinan Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Housatonic
- Main Street Hamden
- Huntington Street Shelton
- Shipyard Lane Milford
- April Street 3, West Haven
- Quinnipiac River Front St Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Quillinan Reservoir
- Fountain Lake Reservoir
- Picketts Pond
- Lake Housatonic
- Lake Wintergreen
- Carrington Pond
Paddle runs
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- Kent Bridge To Boardman 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
Track Quillinan 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 Quillinan Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Quillinan 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 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 Quillinan Reservoir Dam.