Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam dam
Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam
Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam, also known as North Branch Park River Site 1, is a vital infrastructure in Bloomfield, Connecticut designed by the USDA NRCS in 1963. This earth dam stands at 23 feet high and stretches 1,625 feet long, with a storage capacity of 1,750 acre-feet to mitigate flood risks along Beamans Brook. The dam's primary purpose is flood risk reduction, safeguarding the surrounding area from potential inundation during periods of high discharge.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), Wintonbury Dam is state-regulated and subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and satisfactory condition. With a high hazard potential due to its location and moderate risk assessment, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the community and infrastructure downstream from potential flood events. Despite its uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, the dam has been deemed satisfactory in its condition assessment, meeting regulatory guidelines and serving as a key asset in water resource management in Hartford County.
With John B. Larson representing the area in Congress, the Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam stands as a testament to effective flood risk reduction measures in the region. Its strategic location, design by the USDA NRCS, and state regulation by DEEP highlight the collaborative efforts in safeguarding water resources and climate resilience in Bloomfield, Connecticut. As a key piece of infrastructure with a high hazard potential but satisfactory condition assessment, the dam exemplifies the importance of proactive flood control measures in mitigating risks and preserving the safety of the community and environment.
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 Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 11 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Tariffville | 410 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Near West Suffield | 4 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 91 cfs | → |
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 18 cfs | → |
| Farmington River At Unionville | 259 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam.
Boat launches
- Riverside Road Simsbury
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
- Rainbow Reservoir
- East River Drive East Hartford
- Wilbur Cross Highway East Hartford
- New State Road Trail Manchester
Campgrounds
- Beech Grove 5
- Primitve Camping Area
- Deep Campsite
- Roaring Brook Camp Area
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
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 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 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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 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 Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam
Where does the data for Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 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 Wintonbury Flood Control Site #1 Dam.