Falls Village dam
Falls Village
Falls Village, also known as Great Falls Dam, is a captivating hydroelectric structure located in Falls Village, Connecticut. Constructed in 1913, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 14.67 feet and spans 300 feet in length. With a maximum storage capacity of 1135 acre-feet and a normal storage of 1135 acre-feet, this dam serves a dual purpose of hydroelectric power generation and recreation.
Situated on the Housatonic River within the Litchfield County of Connecticut, Falls Village plays a significant role in the region's water resource management. Managed by a public utility, this dam is federally regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. With a spillway width of 320 feet and a drainage area of 634 square miles, Falls Village poses a significant hazard potential, prompting a moderate risk assessment rating of 3.
Despite its age, Falls Village continues to operate efficiently, providing clean energy and recreational opportunities to the local community and visitors alike. With its historic significance and vital role in water resource management, Falls Village stands as a testament to the ingenuity and importance of hydroelectric infrastructure in the region.
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 Falls Village -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 536 cfs | → |
| Salmon Creek At Lime Rock | 30 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 423 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 21 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 42 cfs | → |
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Falls Village .
Boat launches
- Twin Lakes
- Rudd Drive Town Of North East
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Winchester Lake
- Highland Lake
- Burr Pond
Campgrounds
- Belter's Campsites
- Sharon Mountain Campsite
- Ball Brook Group Camping Area
- Rudd Pond - Taconic State Park
- Sage's Ravine Campground
- Laurel Ridge Campsite
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Kent Bridge To Boardman Bridge
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Falls Village 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 Falls Village
Where does the data for Falls Village 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 Significant 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 Falls Village .