Martins Pond dam
Martins Pond
Martins Pond, located in Peacham, Vermont, is a state-regulated water resource managed by the Department of Fish & Wildlife. The dam at Martins Pond, completed in 1958, serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a concrete structure standing at 10 feet high and 142 feet long. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2016 revealed it to be in poor condition, emphasizing the need for regular inspections and potential maintenance.
With a storage capacity of 580 acre-feet and a surface area of 77 acres, Martins Pond offers a tranquil setting for various recreational activities. The dam's association with the Stevens River-TR provides a unique ecosystem for water and climate enthusiasts to explore. However, the dam's poor condition assessment and outdated inspection frequency raise concerns about the long-term sustainability of the reservoir and emphasize the importance of proper maintenance and risk management measures to ensure its continued functionality and safety.
As a vital part of Vermont's water infrastructure, Martins Pond serves as not only a recreational hub but also a critical resource for environmental conservation and wildlife preservation. The involvement of the state regulatory agency DEC in overseeing the dam's operations highlights the commitment to ensuring the safety and sustainability of this essential water source. Moving forward, proactive measures and investments in maintaining and improving the dam's condition will be crucial in preserving Martins Pond's ecological integrity 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 Martins Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Passumpsic River At Passumpsic | 1,110 cfs | → |
| Sleepers River (Site W-5) Near St. Johnsbury | 98 cfs | → |
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 9 cfs | → |
| Wells River At Wells River | 241 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Wells River | 5,320 cfs | → |
| East Orange Branch At East Orange | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Martins Pond.
Boat launches
- Camp Road Peacham
- Peacham Pond Boat Ramp
- Taylor Road Peacham
- Harveys Hollow Road Peacham
- Molly's Pond Boat Launch
- North Pond Road Walden
Campgrounds
- Big Deer State Park
- Stillwater State Park
- New Discovery State Park
- Ricker Pond State Park
- Sugar Ridge Rv Resort
- Harkdale Farm Campsite
Paddle runs
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Thornton Railroad Bridge To Bridgewater/Bristol Town Line
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
More reservoirs
Track Martins 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 Martins Pond
Where does the data for Martins 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 Martins Pond.