Talcott Flood Control Dam #2 dam
Talcott Flood Control Dam #2
Talcott Flood Control Dam #2, also known as South Branch Park River Main Dam, is a state-owned structure located in West Hartford, Connecticut. Designed by USDA NRCS and completed in 1964, this earth dam stands at a height of 18.5 feet and has a length of 2860 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a storage capacity of 1205 acre-feet and a maximum discharge rate of 3500 cubic feet per second.
The dam is situated on the Trout Brook Tributary and is regulated by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP). It features an uncontrolled spillway with a width of 90 feet and is classified as having a high hazard potential. Despite this, the dam's condition assessment in 2015 deemed it satisfactory, with a moderate risk level. The emergency action plan for the dam was last revised in November 2015, and the structure undergoes inspections every two years to ensure its safety and effectiveness in flood control.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find Talcott Flood Control Dam #2 to be an important asset in managing flood risk in the Hartford area. Its strategic location, design, and operational features contribute to the protection of surrounding communities from potential flooding events. As a state-regulated structure with a focus on flood risk reduction, this dam serves as a critical component of Connecticut's water resource management infrastructure, showcasing the collaborative efforts between government agencies and designers to mitigate the impacts of extreme weather events on the local environment and population.
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 Talcott Flood Control Dam #2 -- 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 | 282 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 446 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 5 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 83 cfs | → |
| Quinnipiac River At Southington | 14 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Talcott Flood Control Dam #2.
Boat launches
- Riverside Road Simsbury
- Batterson Park Pond
- East River Drive East Hartford
- Wilbur Cross Highway East Hartford
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
Campgrounds
- Deep Campsite
- Beech Grove 5
- Primitve Camping Area
- Roaring Brook Camp Area
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
- Camp Sequassen
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 Talcott Flood Control Dam #2 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 Talcott Flood Control Dam #2
Where does the data for Talcott Flood Control Dam #2 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 Talcott Flood Control Dam #2.