Minards Pond dam
Minards Pond
Minards Pond, located in Rockingham, Vermont, is a Gravity type dam built in 1900 primarily for water supply purposes. With a height of 25 feet and a length of 700 feet, this structure holds a storage capacity of 826 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 46 acres. The dam's drainage area is 0.32 square miles, with the Connecticut River-TR running nearby.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), Minards Pond is state-regulated, with inspection, permitting, and enforcement processes in place to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam is classified as having a Significant hazard potential, but its condition was assessed as satisfactory during the last inspection in July 2015. The emergency action plan status and risk assessment for the site remain unspecified, indicating potential areas for future improvement and mitigation strategies.
Despite its age, Minards Pond continues to play a crucial role in supplying water to the local community. As a vital piece of infrastructure, ongoing monitoring and upkeep are essential to safeguarding its integrity and ensuring a reliable water source for the area. Climate and water resource enthusiasts can appreciate the historical significance and environmental impact of this dam within the context of Vermont's water management practices and regulations.
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 Minards Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saxtons River At Saxtons River | 19 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At North Walpole | 24,100 cfs | → |
| Williams River Near Rockingham Vt | 203 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Near Gilsum | 206 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Below Surry Mt Dam | 459 cfs | → |
| West River Below Townshend Dam Near Townshend | 46 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Minards Pond.
Boat launches
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Lake Warren Boat Launch
- Surry Mountain Lake
- Stone Pond Boat Launch
- Crescent Lake Boat Launch
- Chapman Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Tree Farm Campground
- Townshend State Park
- Jamaica State Park
- Horseshoe Acres Campground
- Fox Brook Tent Site
- Wheelock Park Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- End Of Kendall Farm Road To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To End Of Kendall Farm Road
Track Minards Pond 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 Minards Pond
Where does the data for Minards Pond 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 Minards Pond.