Spruce Lake dam
Spruce Lake
Spruce Lake, also known as Kerschner, is a private water resource located in Windham, Vermont. Built in 1970 by W.E. SCHUMWAY, this earth-type dam stands at 24 feet high and stretches 200 feet in length, creating a storage capacity of 165 acre-feet. The lake primarily serves as a recreational area, offering visitors a serene escape in a picturesque setting.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Spruce Lake is regulated, inspected, and enforced for safety standards regularly. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam poses minimal risk to the surrounding area. While the lake covers 15 acres and drains an area of 1.6 square miles, its maximum discharge capacity and spillway information remain undisclosed.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Spruce Lake presents a fascinating example of human-managed water systems in a natural landscape. Its historical significance, design details, and recreational purpose make it a valuable asset not only for the local community but also for those interested in sustainable water management practices.
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 Spruce Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Green River Near Colrain | 71 cfs | → |
| West River Below Townshend Dam Near Townshend | 46 cfs | → |
| Deerfield River At Charlemont | 294 cfs | → |
| North River At Shattuckville | 116 cfs | → |
| West River At Jamaica | 628 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River At Hinsdale | 1,700 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spruce Lake.
Boat launches
- Lake Raponda Road Wilmington
- Fairview Avenue 298, Wilmington
- Somerset
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- South Stream Access Area Road Pownal
Campgrounds
- Molly Stark State Park Campsites
- Molly Stark State Park
- Red Mill Brook
- Woodford State Park
- Fort Dummer State Park
- Grout Pond
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Headwaters To First Bridge
- First Bridge To Walloomsac Brook
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
More reservoirs
Track Spruce Lake 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 Spruce Lake
Where does the data for Spruce Lake 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 Spruce Lake.