Colby Pond dam
Colby Pond
Colby Pond, located in Plymouth, Vermont, is a picturesque recreational spot with a dam that was completed in 1959. The dam, primarily made of earth and stone, stands at a height of 29 feet and has a length of 505 feet, creating a storage capacity of 210 acre-feet. The pond covers a surface area of 20 acres and is fed by the Twentymile Stream, offering a tranquil retreat for water resource and climate enthusiasts to enjoy.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Colby Pond is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state authorities to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations. Despite being classified as low hazard potential, the dam is assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in May 2013. The pond's emergency action plan status, risk assessment, and inundation maps preparation are currently unspecified, indicating potential areas for improvement in emergency preparedness.
With its idyllic setting and recreational opportunities, Colby Pond serves as a valuable resource for the local community and visitors alike. As water resource and climate enthusiasts explore this serene location, there is an opportunity to appreciate the careful design and maintenance of the dam, ensuring the safety and sustainability of this beloved waterway in Windsor County, Vermont.
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 Colby Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 64 cfs | → |
| Black River At North Springfield | 370 cfs | → |
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 821 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 509 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 701 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,850 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colby Pond.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
- Greendale Campground
- Greendale
- Horseshoe Acres Campground
- Mt. Ascutney State Park
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Confluence With Otter Creek To Ten Kilns Brook
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- South Wallington To Emerald Lake
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- End Of Kendall Farm Road To Confluence With West River
Track Colby 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 Colby Pond
Where does the data for Colby 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 Colby Pond.