Peterson dam
Peterson
Peterson, also known as the West Milton Dam, is a vital hydroelectric structure located in Vermont along the Lamoille River. This concrete gravity dam, completed in 1949, stands at a height of 51 feet and spans 507 feet in length. With a storage capacity of 2,840 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 155,400 cubic feet per second, Peterson plays a crucial role in water resource management and energy generation.
Managed by a public utility, Peterson falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and is subject to federal regulations and inspections. The dam's spillway, outlet gates, and controlled design contribute to its high hazard potential, leading to a very high risk assessment score of 1. Despite its age, the condition assessment of Peterson is currently unavailable, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Located in Chittenden County, Vermont, Peterson not only serves as a key hydroelectric facility but also poses challenges in terms of risk management and emergency preparedness. With its historical significance and significant impact on the surrounding environment and community, Peterson stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management, climate resilience, and infrastructure sustainability in the face of evolving regulatory standards and operational requirements.
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 Peterson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Lamoille River At East Georgia | 1,020 cfs | → |
| Winooski River Near Essex Junction | 1,540 cfs | → |
| Englesby Brook At Burlington | 15 cfs | → |
| Potash Br @ Queen City Park Rd | 116 cfs | → |
| Saranac River At Plattsburgh Ny | 1,170 cfs | → |
| Salmon River At South Plattsburgh Ny | 44 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Peterson .
⚓ Boat launches
- Abare Lane Milton
- Highbridge Road 3065, Georgia
- Featherbed Lane South Hero
- Sunrise Drive South Hero
- Indian Brook Loop Trail Essex
- Pearl Street Essex Junction
⛺ Campgrounds
- Appletree Bay Campground
- Grand Isle State Park
- Scouts Point
- Burton Island
- North Beach
- Primitive Campsite 14
🛶 Paddle runs
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
🛡 More reservoirs
More reservoirs →Track Peterson 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 Peterson
Where does the data for Peterson 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 Peterson .