Walkers Reservior Dam dam
Walkers Reservior Dam
Located in Vernon, Connecticut, Walkers Reservoir Dam is a significant earth dam completed in 1900 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 10 feet and stretches 285 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 69 acre-feet. Situated on Gages Brook, this dam serves as a vital resource for the local community, offering a surface area of 15.6 acres for recreational activities.
Despite its historical significance, Walkers Reservoir Dam is currently assessed to be in poor condition, with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection conducted in November 2019 highlighted the need for improvements to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure. The dam is state-regulated, with inspections, permitting, and enforcement overseen by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and management of dams like Walkers Reservoir Dam are crucial for ensuring public safety and protecting the surrounding environment. With its location in Tolland County, this dam plays a vital role in water storage and flood control for the region. As efforts are made to address the poor condition of the dam, stakeholders and enthusiasts in water resource management and climate resilience will be closely monitoring developments to safeguard this essential infrastructure.
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 Walkers Reservior Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Broad Brook At Broad Brook | 18 cfs | → |
| Hockanum River Near East Hartford | 91 cfs | → |
| Willimantic River Near Coventry | 144 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Thompsonville | 17,100 cfs | → |
| Mount Hope River Near Warrenville | 35 cfs | → |
| North Branch Park R At Hartford | 11 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walkers Reservior Dam.
Boat launches
- Bolton Lake (Lower)
- New State Road Trail Manchester
- Coventry Lake
- Bissell Bridge (Connecticut River)
- Kings Island (Connecticut River)
- Holbrook Pond
Campgrounds
- Beech Grove 5
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Brialee
- Primitve Camping Area
- Highland Campground
- Westover Arb Military
Fishing spots
- Trout Hatchery
- Lake Washington Fishing Area
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Toms Creek
- Twotree Island Channel
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 Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- 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
Track Walkers Reservior 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 Walkers Reservior Dam
Where does the data for Walkers Reservior 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 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 Walkers Reservior Dam.