Austin Pond dam
Austin Pond
Austin Pond is a historic concrete dam located in Hubbardton, Vermont, with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1900, the dam stands at 7 feet tall and spans 80 feet in length, creating a surface area of 28 acres and a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam is still in use and regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
The dam's condition assessment in 2020 reported it as poor, with a low hazard potential, prompting a need for maintenance and potential upgrades. The last inspection in 2007 revealed a need for improvement, and a regular inspection frequency of 10 years is recommended. The dam overlooks the Lake Bomoseen-TR river/stream and is surrounded by a drainage area of 4.9 square miles. With Peter Welch as the local congressional representative, efforts may be made to secure funding for necessary repairs to ensure the long-term viability of Austin Pond for recreational use and environmental protection in the surrounding area.
Despite its current condition, Austin Pond remains a valuable resource for the community, offering opportunities for recreation and enjoyment. With proper maintenance and support from local and federal agencies, the dam can continue to serve its purpose while safeguarding the natural environment and water resources of Rutland County, Vermont. Advocates for water resource management and climate enthusiasts can monitor the progress of any restoration efforts to preserve this historic structure for future generations to enjoy.
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 Austin Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poultney River Below Fair Haven | 352 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 643 cfs | → |
| Mettawee River Near Middle Granville Ny | 263 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Middlebury | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Putnam Creek East Of Crown Point Center Ny | 373 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 51 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Austin Pond.
Boat launches
- Lhcs Road Hubbardton
- Sudbury
- Willowbrook Road Sudbury
- Orwell
- Mount Independence Road Orwell
- Lake Road 4819, Benson
Campgrounds
- Half Moon Pond State Park
- Bomoseen State Park
- Country Village Campground
- Silver Lake Campground
- Branbury State Park
- Lake Dunmore Kampersville
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- South Wallington To Emerald Lake
More reservoirs
Track Austin 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 Austin Pond
Where does the data for Austin 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 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 Austin Pond.