East Barre dam
East Barre
East Barre, located in Barre Town, Vermont, is home to a significant flood risk reduction infrastructure known as the East Barre dam. Constructed in 1935 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, this earth dam stands at a height of 65 feet and spans a length of 1632 feet along the Jail Branch river. With a storage capacity of 23,550 acre-feet, the dam serves as a crucial defense against potential flooding in the area.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the East Barre dam is deemed to have a high hazard potential but is currently assessed to be in fair condition. Regular inspections and enforcement measures are carried out to ensure the safety and efficacy of the structure. While primarily designed for flood risk reduction, the dam also plays a role in water resource management, with a drainage area of 39 square miles and a surface area of 687 acres.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience will find East Barre and its dam to be a fascinating example of proactive infrastructure designed to protect against the impacts of extreme weather events. With its strategic location in Washington County, Vermont, the East Barre dam stands as a testament to the importance of effective state-regulated water management systems in mitigating the potential risks posed by changing climatic conditions.
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 East Barre -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Orange Branch At East Orange | 27 cfs | → |
| Dog River At Northfield Falls | 185 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 1,150 cfs | → |
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 285 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 296 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 69 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Barre.
Boat launches
- Rood Pond Road Williamstown
- Vt 12 Brookfield
- Peacham Pond Boat Ramp
- Justa Road Calais
- Camp Road Peacham
- Molly's Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Ricker Pond State Park
- Allis State Park
- Stillwater State Park
- Big Deer State Park
- New Discovery State Park
- Bugbee Landing Campsite
Fishing spots
Track East Barre 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 East Barre
Where does the data for East Barre 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 East Barre.