Riverside Pond Dam dam
Riverside Pond Dam
Located in Stafford, Connecticut, the Riverside Pond Dam is a private structure that serves as a vital water supply source. Built in 1880 and standing at 21 feet tall with a length of 180 feet, this masonry dam holds a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6.6 acres. The dam regulates the flow of the Furnace Brook, with a maximum discharge capacity of 4345 cubic feet per second through an uncontrolled spillway 64 feet wide.
Despite its historical significance, the Riverside Pond Dam poses a high hazard potential and is currently classified as being in poor condition. The last inspection in April 2020 revealed the need for significant maintenance and rehabilitation work. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, there is a pressing need for risk management measures to be implemented to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for both its water supply function and potential impact on the surrounding area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts are closely monitoring the Riverside Pond Dam to advocate for necessary updates and improvements to mitigate risks and ensure long-term sustainability.
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 Riverside Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Hope River Near Warrenville | 35 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 85 cfs | → |
| Quaboag River At West Brimfield | 238 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 142 cfs | → |
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 18 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Thompsonville | 17,100 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riverside Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Wilbur Cross Highway Union
- Bigelow Pond
- Clark Road Extension 303, Sturbridge
- Red Bridge Road 16, Wilbraham
- Bolton Lake (Lower)
- Coventry Lake
Campgrounds
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Brialee
- Westover Arb Military
- Beech Grove 5
- Primitve Camping Area
- Highland Campground
Fishing spots
- Trout Hatchery
- Lake Washington Fishing Area
- Baker Cove
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Twotree Island Channel
- Mumford Cove
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
- 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
Track Riverside 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 Riverside Pond Dam
Where does the data for Riverside 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 Riverside Pond Dam.