Lake Casper dam
Lake Casper
Lake Casper, located in Royalton, Vermont, is a picturesque water resource that serves as a primary water supply for the local community. Built in 1880, this earth dam stands at 17 feet high and has a storage capacity of 5 acre-feet. With a surface area of 0.6 acres and a drainage area of 0.28 square miles, this reservoir plays a crucial role in meeting the water needs of the area.
Despite its historical significance and vital function, Lake Casper is currently facing challenges in terms of its condition assessment, rated as poor, and its hazard potential categorized as significant. The last inspection in 2014 revealed these issues, highlighting the importance of ongoing maintenance and upgrades to ensure the safety and efficiency of the dam. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake Casper serves as a valuable case study in the management and preservation of essential water infrastructure in the face of changing environmental conditions and evolving regulatory standards.
With its multi-arch core type design and soil foundation, Lake Casper stands as a testament to the engineering ingenuity of its time. As efforts continue to address its poor condition and significant hazard potential, the future of this water supply reservoir remains a topic of interest for those passionate about sustainable water resource management and climate resilience. As the community works towards enhancing the safety and functionality of Lake Casper, it serves as a reminder of the critical role that water infrastructure plays in supporting our daily lives and the need for proactive measures to ensure its reliability for generations to come.
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 Lake Casper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River At West Hartford | 1,370 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 61 cfs | → |
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 6,790 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 394 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 45 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Casper.
Boat launches
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Rood Pond Road Williamstown
- Vt 12 Brookfield
- Post Pond Boat Launch
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
Campgrounds
- Silver Lake State Park
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Quechee State Park
- Patchen's Point
- Campsite 15
- Campsite 14
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Lake Casper 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 Lake Casper
Where does the data for Lake Casper 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 Lake Casper.