Ashford Lake Dam dam
Ashford Lake Dam
Ashford Lake Dam, located in Ashford, Connecticut, is a private dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Completed in 1949, the dam stands at a height of 23 feet and has a length of 450 feet. It has a storage capacity of 715 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 370 acre-feet and a surface area of 51 acres. The dam is situated on Goss Brook and is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
The dam's hazard potential is considered significant, but its condition assessment as of February 2012 was rated as satisfactory. The last inspection was conducted in November 2009, with inspections occurring every 5 years. The dam has a spillway width of 15 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 650 cubic feet per second. While the dam does not have associated locks or outlet gates, it plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities for the community and maintaining the water resources of the area.
Overall, Ashford Lake Dam serves as an important structure in the region, ensuring water storage and flood control along with offering recreational benefits to the public. Its presence on Goss Brook contributes to the management of water resources in the area, while its regulatory oversight by the state agency ensures its safety and maintenance. As a focal point for outdoor activities and water conservation efforts, Ashford Lake Dam plays a vital role in the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
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 Ashford Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Hope River Near Warrenville | 40 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 29 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 432 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 225 cfs | → |
| Willimantic River Near Coventry | 160 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 161 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Ashford Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Wilbur Cross Highway Union
- Bigelow Pond
- Pine Acres Lake
- Mansfield Hollow Dam
- Hartford Pike Rogers
- Beaver Brook Pond
Campgrounds
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Highland Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
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
- 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
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
Track Ashford Lake 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 Ashford Lake Dam
Where does the data for Ashford Lake 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 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 Ashford Lake Dam.