Paine Site No. 1 dam
Paine Site No. 1
Paine Site No. 1, located in Barton, Vermont, along the Willoughby River, is a privately owned recreational dam designed by the USDA NRCS in 1969. This earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet, with a structural height of 33 feet and a length of 334 feet. It provides a storage capacity of 163 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 10 acres, serving primarily for recreation purposes. The dam is regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Paine Site No. 1 is assessed to be in fair condition as of July 2017. The dam has an inspection frequency of 3 years, with the last inspection conducted in July 2017. In case of emergencies, a detailed Emergency Action Plan (EAP) has not been prepared, but the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk (3 out of 5). The dam is not under the jurisdiction of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and no specific risk management measures have been reported.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Paine Site No. 1 presents an interesting case study of a privately owned recreational dam in Vermont. The dam's construction by the USDA NRCS and its regulation by the state highlight the collaborative efforts to manage water resources for recreational purposes while ensuring safety and compliance. The dam's condition assessment, hazard potential, and risk assessment provide valuable insights into the challenges and considerations involved in maintaining and managing dams in a changing climate. Further research and monitoring of Paine Site No. 1 could contribute to a better understanding of the intersection between water resource management, climate change, and recreational infrastructure.
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 Paine Site No. 1 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Black River At Coventry | 335 cfs | → |
| Clyde River At Newport | 590 cfs | → |
| Missisquoi River Near North Troy | 283 cfs | → |
| East Branch Passumpsic River Near East Haven | 144 cfs | → |
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 9 cfs | → |
| Moose River At Victory | 204 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Paine Site No. 1.
Boat launches
- Lake Street Barton
- Vt 5a Westmore
- Access Lane Glover
- Hinman Settler Road Brownington
- State Route 105 Charleston
- South Beach Trail Westmore
Campgrounds
- Page
- Tree Corners Family Campground
- Prouty Beach Campground
- Millbrook Campground
- Brighton State Park
- Hazen's Notch Campground
Paddle runs
Track Paine Site No. 1 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 Paine Site No. 1
Where does the data for Paine Site No. 1 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 Paine Site No. 1.