Waterbury dam
Waterbury
Located in Waterbury, Vermont, the Little River dam, also known as the Waterbury dam, was completed in 1938 by the US Army Corps of Engineers. This earth dam stands at a height of 187 feet and has a hydraulic height of 183 feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, but it also serves for hydroelectric power generation and recreational activities. The dam has a storage capacity of 88,000 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 850 acres.
Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the Waterbury dam has not been modified in recent years. It is managed by the state of Vermont and falls under state jurisdiction. The dam is not regulated by a state agency and does not require permitting, inspection, or enforcement. In case of emergencies, there is no detailed emergency action plan prepared, and the last inspection was conducted in August 2017 with a frequency of every 5 years.
As a critical infrastructure for flood control in the region, the Waterbury dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and ensuring public safety. Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find the history and operational details of this dam fascinating, as it stands as a testament to engineering efforts in managing water resources and reducing the impact of natural disasters.
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 Waterbury -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Waterbury | 564 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 247 cfs | → |
| W Branch Little R Abv Bingham Falls Near Stowe | 18 cfs | → |
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 166 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 841 cfs | → |
| Dog River At Northfield Falls | 155 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Waterbury.
Boat launches
- Little River Road 417, Waterbury
- Blush Hill Road 2698, Waterbury
- State Route 100b Moretown
- Warren And Ruth Beeken Rivershore Trail Richmond
- Justa Road Calais
- G A R Road 285, Calais
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
More reservoirs
Track Waterbury 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 Waterbury
Where does the data for Waterbury 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 Waterbury.