West Charleston dam
West Charleston
West Charleston, also known as Lubber Lake Dam, is a private dam located in West Charleston, Vermont. Built in 1928 for hydroelectric purposes, this rockfill dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a storage capacity of 220 acre-feet. The dam is situated on the Clyde River, with a drainage area of 108 square miles and a maximum discharge rate of 2730 cubic feet per second.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, West Charleston Dam has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While the dam has not undergone recent condition assessments, emergency action plans have been prepared and updated as of November 2019. With a spillway width of 107 feet and a surface area of 40 acres, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and electricity generation in the region.
Despite being privately owned, West Charleston Dam is under federal regulation and inspection by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Its strategic location on the Clyde River contributes to the overall water resource infrastructure in Orleans County, Vermont. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate management will find West Charleston Dam to be a fascinating example of early 20th-century hydroelectric engineering and its ongoing significance in the local ecosystem.
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 West Charleston -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Clyde River At Newport | 563 cfs | → |
| Black River At Coventry | 637 cfs | → |
| Missisquoi River Near North Troy | 434 cfs | → |
| East Branch Passumpsic River Near East Haven | 193 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At North Stratford | 2,550 cfs | → |
| Moose River At Victory | 341 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Charleston .
Boat launches
- State Route 105 Charleston
- Hayward Road Derby
- State Route 111 Morgan
- Hinman Settler Road Brownington
- Nelson Hill Road Derby Center
- Ten Mile Square Road Charleston
Campgrounds
- Prouty Beach Campground
- Page
- Brighton State Park
- Tree Corners Family Campground
- Millbrook Campground
- Hazen's Notch Campground
Paddle runs
Track West Charleston 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 West Charleston
Where does the data for West Charleston 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 West Charleston .