Lake John dam
Lake John
Lake John, located in Royalton, Vermont, is a local government-owned water supply reservoir with a primary purpose of providing water to the surrounding area. Built in 1900, the earth dam stands at 27 feet in height and has a length of 240 feet, creating a storage capacity of 12 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 1.2 acres and is fed by the White River-TR, with a drainage area of 0.08 square miles.
Despite its historical significance, Lake John is currently assessed as being in poor condition with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection in 2017 revealed the need for improvements to ensure its safety and longevity. While the state agency responsible for regulation, inspection, and enforcement (DEC) is actively involved in overseeing the dam, there are no federal agencies involved in the ownership, funding, or management of Lake John.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lake John presents both a historical landmark and a current challenge in maintaining infrastructure critical for water supply. As efforts continue to address the dam's poor condition and mitigate potential risks, the reservoir serves as a reminder of the importance of proactive management in safeguarding water resources for future generations.
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 John -- 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 John.
Boat launches
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Vt 12 Brookfield
- Rood Pond Road Williamstown
- 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 John 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 John
Where does the data for Lake John 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 John.