Island Brook Lagoon Dam dam
Island Brook Lagoon Dam
Island Brook Lagoon Dam, also known as Charcoal Pond, is a privately owned recreational structure located in Bridgeport, Connecticut. This masonry dam stands at a height of 19 feet and has a length of 145 feet, providing a storage capacity of 105 acre-feet. With a surface area of 5 acres and a drainage area of 1.66 square miles, the dam serves as a popular spot for outdoor activities and water recreation.
While the dam's primary purpose is for recreation, it is also state-regulated and subject to inspection, enforcement, and permitting by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). The dam has a spillway width of 25 feet and a maximum discharge of 780 cubic feet per second, highlighting its importance in managing water flow and preventing potential hazards. Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment as of 2013 was deemed fair, emphasizing the need for continued monitoring and risk management measures.
Island Brook Lagoon Dam's picturesque location along the Island Brook stream, combined with its historic significance and recreational offerings, makes it a valuable asset for water resource and climate enthusiasts in Fairfield County. As efforts to maintain and improve the dam's safety and functionality continue, its role in preserving water resources and providing leisure opportunities for the community remains crucial in ensuring a sustainable and enjoyable environment for all.
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 Island Brook Lagoon Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Rooster River At Fairfield | 4 cfs | → |
| Mill R Nr Fairfield | 5 cfs | → |
| Sasco Brook Near Southport | 4 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck R Nr Westport | 20 cfs | → |
| Saugatuck River Near Redding | 19 cfs | → |
| Norwalk R At South Wilton | 13 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Island Brook Lagoon Dam.
Boat launches
- Housatonic River State Boat Launch
- Huntington Street Shelton
- Shipyard Lane Milford
- Lake Housatonic
- Hillspoint Road Westport
- Saugatuck River
Campgrounds
- Youth Camp Iii
- Youth Camp Ii
- Youth Camp I
- Kettletown State Park
- Ward Pound Ridge Reservation
- Mountain Lakes Park
Fishing spots
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
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- 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
Track Island Brook Lagoon 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 Island Brook Lagoon Dam
Where does the data for Island Brook Lagoon 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 Island Brook Lagoon Dam.