Pechie dam
Pechie
Pechie is a privately owned earth dam located in Starksboro, Vermont, primarily serving the purpose of recreation. Built in 1971 by the USDA NRCS, this structure stands at a height of 27 feet with a length of 295 feet, creating a surface area of 3.5 acres and a storage capacity of 31 acre-feet. The dam is regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and is subject to regular inspections to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its low hazard potential, Pechie has been assessed to be in poor condition as of November 2018, prompting the need for potential risk management measures. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and its associated drainage area covers 0.23 square miles. While the dam has not undergone modifications in recent years, its last inspection in July 2005 revealed a need for maintenance and improvement. The risk assessment for Pechie is classified as moderate, indicating a level of concern that warrants attention and proactive measures to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the structure's long-term stability.
Overall, Pechie serves as a valuable recreational resource in Addison County, Vermont, but its condition assessment and risk level highlight the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to safeguard both the dam's integrity and the surrounding community. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate management will find interest in the complex interplay of regulatory oversight, structural design, and risk assessment that shape the management of dams like Pechie and their impact on local ecosystems and public safety.
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 Pechie -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lewis Creek At North Ferrisburg | 108 cfs | → |
| Laplatte River At Shelburne Falls | 53 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 247 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Waterbury | 564 cfs | → |
| Little Otter Creek At Ferrisburg | 45 cfs | → |
| Winooski River Near Essex Junction | 2,480 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pechie.
Boat launches
- Camp Road Monkton
- Warren And Ruth Beeken Rivershore Trail Richmond
- Lake Iroquois Boat Launch
- Pond Access Road Shelburne
- Little River Road 417, Waterbury
- State Route 100b Moretown
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
More reservoirs
Track Pechie 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 Pechie
Where does the data for Pechie 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 Low 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 Pechie.