Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike dam
Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike
Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike, located in Thompson, Connecticut, is a significant earth dam completed in 1900 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at 8 feet high and spans 60 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. This structure regulates the flow of Robbins Brook, covering an area of 18 acres and serving as a popular spot for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy various recreational activities.
Managed by a private owner, the dam is state-regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), ensuring that inspection, enforcement, and permitting are carried out to maintain its safety. Despite being categorized as having a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment of Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike in 2018 deemed it to be satisfactory. The last inspection was conducted in June 2012, with a scheduled frequency of every 7 years to monitor its structural integrity.
With its historical significance dating back over a century, Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike continues to provide a vital recreational outlet while contributing to the management of water resources in the Windham County area. As an earth dam with a sizeable storage capacity, it plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and maintaining the ecological balance of the surrounding environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, this structure offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the intersection of human engineering and natural landscapes in a picturesque setting.
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 Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 116 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 225 cfs | → |
| Nipmuc River Near Harrisville | 17 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 29 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 432 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike.
Boat launches
- Quaddick Reservoir
- Wallum Lake Road 107, Douglas
- Clarkville Pond
- Bowdish Reservoir
- Pascoag Reservoir Fishing Access
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Brialee
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Wilderness Lake Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike 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 Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike
Where does the data for Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike 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 Significant 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 Whitmans Pond Dam & Dike.