Whitney Flood Control Site #1 dam
Whitney Flood Control Site #1
Whitney Flood Control Site #1, also known as Whitney Reservoir Site #1, is a state-owned structure located in Tolland, Connecticut, designed by the USDA NRCS. Completed in 1962, this earth dam stands at 52 feet high and spans 1400 feet in length, serving primarily for flood risk reduction along the Patten Brook. With a normal storage capacity of 1070 acre-feet and a surface area of 80 acres, the site plays a vital role in managing water flow and mitigating potential hazards.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Whitney Flood Control Site #1 boasts a high hazard potential and a satisfactory condition assessment as of April 2015. The dam's uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates reflect its design for efficient water discharge during high flow events, with a maximum discharge capacity of 4170 cubic feet per second. Despite its moderate risk rating, the site remains a crucial component in the state's flood control infrastructure, requiring regular inspections and potential risk management measures to ensure public safety and environmental protection.
Overall, Whitney Flood Control Site #1 stands as a key piece of Connecticut's water resource management efforts, providing essential flood risk reduction capabilities along the Patten Brook. With its significant storage capacity, strategic location, and state-regulated oversight, the site continues to play a pivotal role in safeguarding surrounding communities from potential water-related emergencies. As climate change impacts intensify, maintaining and enhancing the site's infrastructure will be essential to ensuring its continued effectiveness in protecting the region's water resources and residents.
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 Whitney Flood Control Site #1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 22 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Thompsonville | 18,900 cfs | → |
| Mount Hope River Near Warrenville | 40 cfs | → |
| Chicopee River At Indian Orchard | 1,210 cfs | → |
| Quaboag River At West Brimfield | 259 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 102 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Whitney Flood Control Site #1.
Boat launches
- Wilbur Cross Highway Union
- Bigelow Pond
- Kings Island (Connecticut River)
- Bolton Lake (Lower)
- South End Bridge Agawam
- Red Bridge Road 16, Wilbraham
Campgrounds
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Brialee
- Beech Grove 5
- Westover Arb Military
- Primitve Camping Area
- Highland Campground
Fishing spots
- Trout Hatchery
- Lake Washington Fishing Area
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Baker Cove
- Twotree Island Channel
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 Whitney Flood Control Site #1 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 Whitney Flood Control Site #1
Where does the data for Whitney Flood Control Site #1 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 Whitney Flood Control Site #1.