Miller Pond dam
Miller Pond
Miller Pond in Strafford, Vermont, is a state-regulated water resource managed by the Department of Environmental Conservation. Built in 1960 by Haley & Ward, the 170-foot-long earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet, providing a storage capacity of 590 acre-feet for recreational purposes. With a surface area of 63 acres and a drainage area of 1.04 square miles, Miller Pond is nestled along Abbot Brook, offering a tranquil setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy.
The dam at Miller Pond has a low hazard potential and was last inspected in August 2015, with a satisfactory condition assessment reported. The dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures are currently not available, indicating a potential area for improvement in the future. Despite these uncertainties, Miller Pond remains a popular destination for boating, fishing, and relaxation, attracting visitors to its scenic shores in Orange County, Vermont.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and ecosystems, the management and maintenance of dams like Miller Pond become increasingly vital. With its strategic location and recreational value, Miller Pond serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between water resources, climate resilience, and responsible stewardship. As enthusiasts and advocates for sustainable water management, there is an opportunity to support efforts that ensure the long-term viability and safety of places like Miller Pond for future generations to enjoy.
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 Miller Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,750 cfs | → |
| East Orange Branch At East Orange | 30 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 14,000 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 76 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 490 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Miller Pond.
Boat launches
- Post Pond Boat Launch
- Indian Pond Boat Launch
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Reservoir Pond Boat Launch
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Upper Baker Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
Track Miller 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 Miller Pond
Where does the data for Miller 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 Low 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 Miller Pond.