Freshwater Pond Dam dam
Freshwater Pond Dam
Freshwater Pond Dam, located in Enfield, Connecticut, is a picturesque masonry dam built in 1900 primarily for recreation purposes. With a height of 20 feet and a length of 270 feet, this dam holds back the waters of Freshwater Brook, creating a surface area of 5 acres and a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is still in use and receives regular inspections from the state regulatory agency, DEEP, due to its high hazard potential and poor condition assessment.
The dam features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 88 feet, capable of discharging up to 2000 cubic feet per second. The surrounding area has a drainage area of 11.1 square miles, making it an important water resource for the region. Although the dam is in need of maintenance and repair, it continues to serve as a popular recreational spot for locals and visitors alike. With its historical significance and environmental importance, Freshwater Pond Dam stands as a reminder of the intersection between human infrastructure and natural ecosystems in the face of climate change and water resource management challenges.
As climate enthusiasts and water resource advocates, it is crucial to monitor the condition of dams like Freshwater Pond Dam to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and the integrity of our natural water systems. By understanding the risks and management measures associated with dams, we can work towards sustainable solutions that balance the need for recreation with the need for environmental stewardship. Freshwater Pond Dam serves as a valuable case study in the ongoing dialogue surrounding dam safety, climate resilience, and the preservation of freshwater resources in a changing world.
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 Freshwater Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Connecticut River At Thompsonville | 18,900 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Near West Suffield | 4 cfs | → |
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 22 cfs | → |
| Westfield River Near Westfield | 371 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 446 cfs | → |
| Chicopee River At Indian Orchard | 1,210 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Freshwater Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Kings Island (Connecticut River)
- South End Bridge Agawam
- West Street 121, Springfield
- Rainbow Reservoir
- Water Street 266-334, Springfield
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
Campgrounds
- Primitve Camping Area
- Westover Arb Military
- Beech Grove 5
- Roaring Brook Camp Area
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Granville State Forest
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Trout Hatchery
- Lake Quassapaug
- Lake Washington Fishing Area
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
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
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- 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
Track Freshwater 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 Freshwater Pond Dam
Where does the data for Freshwater 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 Freshwater Pond Dam.