Hart Brook Pond Dam dam
Hart Brook Pond Dam
Hart Brook Pond Dam, located in Torrington, Connecticut, was completed in 1908 and serves as a crucial water supply source in the region. The dam, primarily constructed of masonry with a height of 23 feet and a length of 160 feet, holds back the waters of Hart Brook to create a surface area of 1.1 acres and a drainage area of 5.2 square miles. Despite its age, the dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) to ensure its safety and functionality.
The dam's spillway, with a width of 40 feet, is uncontrolled, and it is equipped with a valve outlet gate. The dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, but its condition is assessed as fair as of the last inspection in June 2016. The emergency action plan (EAP) for the dam was last revised in February 2017, and the risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level (3) associated with the dam. Overall, Hart Brook Pond Dam plays a vital role in water resource management in the area and is subject to regular monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential risks.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Hart Brook Pond Dam presents an intriguing case study of a historic masonry dam that continues to fulfill its primary purpose of water supply. The dam's location in Litchfield County, Connecticut, and its association with the New England District of the US Army Corps of Engineers highlight its regional significance. With ongoing state regulation, inspection, and enforcement, as well as a comprehensive emergency action plan in place, the dam exemplifies responsible management of water resources and infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. Its fair condition assessment and moderate risk level underscore the importance of continued monitoring and risk management measures to ensure the safety and stability of the dam for the community it serves.
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 Hart Brook Pond 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 | → |
| Shepaug River At Peters Dam At Woodville | 20 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 323 cfs | → |
| Salmon Creek At Lime Rock | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hart Brook Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Winchester Lake
- Burr Pond
- Highland Lake
- West Hill Pond Boat Launch
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Farmington River Trail Collinsville
Campgrounds
- Camp Sequassen
- Camp Workcoeman
- White Pines Campsites
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
- Windmill Hill - White Memorial
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
Fishing spots
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Squantz Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
Paddle runs
- Begins Downstream Of The Borough Of Bantam, At Stoddard Road Bridge To The Confluence With The Shepaug River
- Pond Downstream Of Shepaug Reservoir Dam, Marked By Service Road Bridge To Ends In Backwaters Of Lake Lillinonah, Near Roxbury Falls
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- 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
Track Hart Brook Pond 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 Hart Brook Pond Dam
Where does the data for Hart Brook Pond 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 Hart Brook Pond Dam.