Lake Sadawga West Dike dam
Lake Sadawga West Dike
Lake Sadawga West Dike in Whitingham, Vermont, stands as a crucial structure for both water management and outdoor recreation. Built in 1880, this earth dam is designed primarily for recreational purposes, offering a serene escape for visitors seeking to enjoy the surrounding Harriman Reservoir-TR. With a structural height of 16 feet and a storage capacity of 1500 acre-feet, the dam plays a vital role in maintaining the area's water resources.
Despite its historical significance, Lake Sadawga West Dike faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which was reported as poor as of July 2020. The dam's hazard potential is classified as high, underscoring the urgent need for maintenance and risk management measures. The last inspection in June 2016 highlighted the critical need for ongoing oversight and potential updates to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, Lake Sadawga West Dike remains a focal point for state-regulated oversight, with the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) playing a key role in permitting, inspecting, and enforcing regulations. With its location in Windham County and proximity to the Harriman Reservoir-TR, this earth dam serves as a crucial link in the region's water management system, highlighting the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental stewardship in the face of a changing climate.
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 Sadawga West Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Deerfield River At Charlemont | 304 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Colrain | 47 cfs | → |
| North River At Shattuckville | 76 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Williamstown | 159 cfs | → |
| Green River At Williamstown | 62 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River At Adams | 56 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Sadawga West Dike.
Boat launches
- Fairview Avenue 298, Wilmington
- Lake Raponda Road Wilmington
- Somerset
- South Stream Access Area Road Pownal
- Ashton Avenue North Adams
- Pine Ridge Drive 27, Pownal
Campgrounds
- Molly Stark State Park Campsites
- Molly Stark State Park
- Mohawk Trail State Forest
- Clarksburg State Park
- Red Mill Brook
- Woodford State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- First Bridge To Walloomsac Brook
- Headwaters To First Bridge
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
More reservoirs
Track Lake Sadawga West Dike 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 Sadawga West Dike
Where does the data for Lake Sadawga West Dike 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 High 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 Sadawga West Dike.