Burr Pond Dam dam
Burr Pond Dam
Burr Pond Dam, located in Torrington, Connecticut, stands as a vital structure along the Still River Tributary. Built in 1935, this masonry dam serves primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape in the midst of Litchfield County. With a height of 17 feet and a length of 170 feet, the dam holds a total storage capacity of 855 acre-feet, providing a picturesque 84-acre surface area for visitors to explore.
Despite its age, Burr Pond Dam remains in satisfactory condition, as indicated by its last inspection in August 2018. However, the dam poses a high hazard potential due to its location and structural characteristics. The dam's emergency action plan was last revised in November 2016 and further risk assessment measures are yet to be assigned. With a maximum discharge capacity of 1415 cubic feet per second, the dam serves as a critical piece of infrastructure in the region, ensuring both water resource conservation and public safety.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts are encouraged to visit Burr Pond Dam to witness firsthand the intersection of nature and engineering. As a state-regulated structure under the jurisdiction of the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water management practices. With its historical significance and recreational value, Burr Pond Dam serves as a symbol of harmony between human development and environmental preservation in the beautiful landscapes of Connecticut.
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 Burr Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Still River At Robertsville | 50 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 129 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 4 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 259 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 72 cfs | → |
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Burr Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Burr Pond
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Highland Lake
- Winchester Lake
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Camp Sequassen
- Camp Workcoeman
- White Pines Campsites
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
- Deep Campsite
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- 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
Track Burr 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 Burr Pond Dam
Where does the data for Burr 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 Burr Pond Dam.