Amherst Lake dam
Amherst Lake
Amherst Lake, also known as Lake Amherst, is a privately owned body of water located in Plymouth, Windsor County, Vermont. The lake serves primarily for recreational purposes and is regulated by the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). The dam that creates Amherst Lake is made of concrete and has a height of 13 feet, with a hydraulic height and structural height of 13 and 17 feet respectively. The lake has a storage capacity of 1050 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 76 acres, with a drainage area of 19.06 square miles.
Despite its picturesque setting, Amherst Lake poses a significant hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The last inspection in July 2014 revealed the need for improvement, and the condition was reassessed in March 2021 with no significant changes reported. The dam's Emergency Action Plan (EAP) status is unclear, raising concerns about the readiness to respond to potential emergencies. Given its location and size, maintaining the safety and integrity of Amherst Lake and its dam is crucial to protecting the surrounding environment and ensuring the well-being of nearby communities.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Amherst Lake can observe the intersection of recreational enjoyment with the responsibility of managing and securing a significant water resource. The state-regulated dam on the Echo Lake-TR stream serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and inspection to prevent potential hazards. As efforts continue to assess and address the dam's condition and emergency preparedness, Amherst Lake stands as a symbol of the delicate balance between human activities and environmental stewardship in a changing climate landscape.
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 Amherst Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 51 cfs | → |
| Black River At North Springfield | 209 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 643 cfs | → |
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 436 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 419 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Amherst Lake.
Boat launches
- Vt 100 Plymouth
- Fishing Access Road Ludlow
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Ice House Road Londonderry
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
Campgrounds
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Greendale Campground
- Greendale
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
- Horseshoe Acres Campground
- Little Rock Pond Tenting Area
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 Amherst 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 Amherst Lake
Where does the data for Amherst 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 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 Amherst Lake.