Colton Pond dam
Colton Pond
Colton Pond, also known as Pine Pond, is a state-owned recreational water resource located in Rutland, Vermont. Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, this serene body of water is nestled in Killington and is fed by the South Branch Tweed River. The dam at Colton Pond, completed in 1964, serves a primary purpose of recreation and stands at a height of 19 feet, with a structural height of 21 feet and a length of 140 feet.
Despite its picturesque setting, Colton Pond poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment as of the last inspection in June 2015. In the event of an emergency, the preparedness and risk assessment measures remain unclear, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential threats. With a drainage area of 0.77 square miles and a storage capacity of 330 acre-feet, this gravity dam is an integral part of the local landscape, yet its maintenance and safety protocols may require further attention to ensure the well-being of the surrounding community and environment.
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 Colton Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 51 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 643 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 54 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,260 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 419 cfs | → |
| Poultney River Below Fair Haven | 352 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colton Pond.
Boat launches
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Vt 100 Plymouth
- Fishing Access Road Ludlow
- Willowbrook Road Sudbury
- Sudbury
Campgrounds
- Gifford Woods State Park
- Chittenden Brook
- Chittenden Brook Campground
- Silver Lake State Park
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Bingo
Fishing spots
Track Colton 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 Colton Pond
Where does the data for Colton 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 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 Colton Pond.