Pin Shop Pond Dam dam
Pin Shop Pond Dam
Pin Shop Pond Dam, located in Bunker Hill, Connecticut, is a privately owned structure constructed in 1870 with a primary purpose of serving as an Earth dam. Standing at a height of 23 feet and spanning a length of 430 feet, this dam provides a storage capacity of 82 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 32 acre-feet. It is situated on the Steele Brook river/stream and is regulated by the State Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), with regular inspections and enforcement measures in place to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
With a hazard potential classified as high and a fair condition assessment as of September 2017, Pin Shop Pond Dam poses a moderate risk, prompting the need for risk management measures to mitigate any potential threats. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 100 feet and is equipped with valve outlet gates. Despite its age and potential risks, the dam has a captivating history and serves as a vital water resource for the local area, with an associated surface area of 3.5 acres and a drainage area of 11.9 square miles.
As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, Pin Shop Pond Dam stands as a testament to engineering ingenuity and serves as a critical infrastructure element in the region. With its historical significance dating back to the 19th century and its ongoing role in water management and conservation efforts, this dam underscores the importance of maintaining and monitoring our water resources in the face of changing climatic conditions and potential hazards.
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 Pin Shop Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nonewaug River At Minortown | 19 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 222 cfs | → |
| Weekeepeemee River At Hotchkissville | 33 cfs | → |
| Naugatuck River At Beacon Falls | 657 cfs | → |
| Pomperaug River At Southbury | 121 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 33 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pin Shop Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
- Lake Zoar
- Lake Lillinonah (Pond Brook)
- Lake Lillinonah
- Silver Lake
- Grove Street 251, New Milford
Campgrounds
- Black Rock State Park
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Sr1
- Sr2
- Cozy Hill Campground
Fishing spots
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Quassapaug
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Papermill Pond
- Reservoir Number 2
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
- 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
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
Track Pin Shop 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 Pin Shop Pond Dam
Where does the data for Pin Shop 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 Pin Shop Pond Dam.