Silver Lake dam
Silver Lake
Silver Lake in Barnard, Vermont is a picturesque water resource managed by the state with a primary purpose of recreation. This gravity dam, designed by DUBOIS & KING and completed in 1968, has a height of 30 feet and a storage capacity of 1710 acre-feet. The dam, located on Pond Brook, spans 100 feet in length and covers a surface area of 84 acres, providing a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts.
Despite its fair condition assessment, Silver Lake poses a high hazard potential and is subject to regular state inspection, permitting, and enforcement by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. The dam's structural integrity is maintained by soil foundations and its multi-arch core design. The surrounding Windsor County community benefits from this recreational resource, with the dam serving as a popular destination for fishing, boating, and other leisure activities.
As climate change intensifies, the protection and management of water resources like Silver Lake will become increasingly vital. Enthusiasts and stakeholders in the water resource and climate sectors can appreciate the significance of this state-regulated dam in maintaining the ecological balance and recreational opportunities in the region, while also ensuring the safety and sustainability of the surrounding 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 Silver Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| White River At West Hartford | 2,330 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 79 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 93 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 658 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 24,000 cfs | → |
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Silver Lake.
Boat launches
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Vt 100 Plymouth
- Fishing Access Road Ludlow
Campgrounds
- Silver Lake State Park
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Gifford Woods State Park
- Quechee State Park
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Chittenden Brook Campground
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake
Where does the data for Silver Lake 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 Silver Lake.