West Hill Pond dam
West Hill Pond
West Hill Pond, located in Cabot, Vermont, is a picturesque water body with a rich history dating back to 1820. The dam, designed by Avery Atkins, stands at a height of 11 feet and spans 212 feet, creating a storage capacity of 170 acre-feet for recreational purposes. The pond covers an area of 46 acres and is fed by the Jug Brook-TR stream, making it a vital resource for the surrounding community.
Despite its scenic beauty and recreational value, West Hill Pond poses a significant hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The dam's structural integrity and maintenance are areas of concern, as indicated by a recent inspection in August 2019. The state regulatory agency DEC oversees the pond's operation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure the safety of its users and surrounding environment.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will be drawn to West Hill Pond not only for its natural charm but also for the challenges it faces in maintaining its infrastructure and safety standards. As discussions around risk management measures and emergency preparedness continue, the pond serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment and environmental stewardship in the face of changing climate 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 West Hill Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 11 cfs | → |
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 530 cfs | → |
| Sleepers River (Site W-5) Near St. Johnsbury | 111 cfs | → |
| Passumpsic River At Passumpsic | 1,120 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 1,380 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Waterbury | 374 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near West Hill Pond.
Boat launches
- Molly's Pond Boat Launch
- North Pond Road Walden
- Nelson Pond Road Woodbury
- G A R Road 285, Calais
- Peacham Pond Boat Ramp
- Justa Road Calais
Campgrounds
- New Discovery State Park
- Big Deer State Park
- Stillwater State Park
- Sugar Ridge Rv Resort
- Ricker Pond State Park
- Elmore State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
Track West Hill Pond 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 Hill Pond
Where does the data for West Hill Pond 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 Significant 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 Hill Pond.