Merriman Pond Dam dam
Merriman Pond Dam
Merriman Pond Dam, also known as Lockwood Pond, is a vital water resource in Watertown, Connecticut, serving primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1900, this earth dam stands at a height of 16 feet and stretches 475 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Smith Pond Brook Tributary and is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment as of December 2020, Merriman Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential due to its proximity to populated areas. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 53 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 336 cubic feet per second. Its risk assessment is moderate, with a hazard potential rating of 3. Regular inspections are conducted every two years to ensure the dam's structural integrity and safety.
As a significant water management structure in Litchfield County, Merriman Pond Dam plays a crucial role in flood control and water storage for the region. Its presence not only supports recreational activities but also serves as a key component of the local water infrastructure. Climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates can appreciate the importance of maintaining and monitoring this dam to ensure its continued functionality and safety for the surrounding community.
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 Merriman Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Naugatuck River At Thomaston | 222 cfs | → |
| Nonewaug River At Minortown | 19 cfs | → |
| Weekeepeemee River At Hotchkissville | 33 cfs | → |
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 69 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 Merriman Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Lake Plymouth Boulevard 191, Plymouth
- Lake Zoar
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Grove Street 251, New Milford
- Lake Lillinonah
- Lake Lillinonah (Pond Brook)
Campgrounds
- Black Rock State Park
- Point Folly - White Memorial
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- Cozy Hill Campground
- Sr1
- Sr2
Fishing spots
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- 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 Merriman 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 Merriman Pond Dam
Where does the data for Merriman 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 Merriman Pond Dam.