South Flood Control Dam dam
South Flood Control Dam
The South Flood Control Dam, also known as South Branch Park River Site 3, is a key structure in the state of Connecticut designed by the USDA NRCS to mitigate flood risks in the Hartford area. Completed in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 30.9 feet and spans 3500 feet, providing a storage capacity of 900 acre-feet to manage excess water flow during periods of heavy rainfall. Located in West Hartford, this dam plays a critical role in flood risk reduction for the surrounding community.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the South Flood Control Dam is state-regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. With a high hazard potential due to its location and purpose, this dam has been assessed as satisfactory in condition as of May 2015. Emergency action plans are in place, and regular inspections are conducted to uphold safety standards and preparedness for any potential flooding events. The dam's primary purpose remains flood risk reduction, serving as a vital infrastructure component to protect the local area from water-related emergencies.
With a history of serving the local community for over half a century, the South Flood Control Dam continues to be a key player in water resource management in Connecticut. Its strategic location, design, and functionality have proven to be effective in reducing flood risks and protecting the surrounding environment. As climate change intensifies, structures like the South Flood Control Dam will play an increasingly important role in safeguarding communities against the impacts of extreme weather events, highlighting the critical need for ongoing monitoring, maintenance, and risk management measures to ensure its continued effectiveness in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 South Flood Control Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 9 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 303 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 4 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 82 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 12 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 569 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Flood Control Dam.
Boat launches
- Batterson Park Pond
- East River Drive East Hartford
- Wilbur Cross Highway East Hartford
- Riverside Road Simsbury
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
- Seymour Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- 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
- 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 Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track South Flood Control 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 South Flood Control Dam
Where does the data for South Flood Control 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 South Flood Control Dam.