Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam dam
Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam
The Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam, also known as the Sucker Brook Reservoir, is a significant water resource infrastructure in Winchester, Connecticut. Completed in 1970, this state-owned dam stands at a height of 68 feet and stretches for 1160 feet along Sucker Brook, providing crucial flood risk reduction for the surrounding area. With a capacity for 1995 acre-feet of storage and a maximum discharge of 6400 cubic feet per second, this dam plays a vital role in protecting the community from potential flooding events.
Managed by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam is subject to regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity and operational effectiveness. While classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam's condition has been assessed as satisfactory, reflecting the diligent maintenance and monitoring efforts in place. Additionally, emergency action plans are in place to guide response measures in case of a dam failure, demonstrating a commitment to public safety and disaster preparedness.
Located in Litchfield County, the Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam serves as a crucial piece of infrastructure in the region's water resource management system. With its primary purpose of flood risk reduction and adherence to state regulations, this dam exemplifies the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding communities against the impacts of extreme weather events and ensuring sustainable water resource management practices.
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 Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Still River At Robertsville | 35 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 232 cfs | → |
| Burlington Brook Near Burlington | 3 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 30 cfs | → |
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 3 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 323 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam.
Boat launches
- Highland Lake
- Burr Pond
- Winchester Lake
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Howells Pond
Campgrounds
- Camp Sequassen
- Camp Workcoeman
- White Pines Campsites
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
- Deep Campsite
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Lower Collinsville Dam To The Route 187 Bridge
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
Track Sucker Brook 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 Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam
Where does the data for Sucker Brook 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 Sucker Brook Flood Control Dam.