Sheldon Springs dam
Sheldon Springs
Sheldon Springs, located in East Highgate, Vermont, is a private hydroelectric facility situated along the Missisquoi River. The dam, completed in 1908, stands at 38 feet tall and spans 283 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 750 acre-feet. The facility boasts a controlled spillway with a width of 218 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 3822 cubic feet per second, making it a crucial player in the region's water resource management.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Sheldon Springs operates with a low hazard potential and a very high risk assessment rating. While the structure's condition assessment is currently unavailable, it undergoes inspections every three years to ensure its continued safety and functionality. Despite its age, Sheldon Springs remains a reliable source of hydroelectric power, contributing to the sustainable energy landscape in Franklin County, Vermont.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate sustainability will find Sheldon Springs to be a fascinating case study in historical dam infrastructure and modern hydroelectric operations. With its strategic location, efficient design, and regulatory oversight, the facility serves as a key player in the region's water management efforts, showcasing the intersection of technology, sustainability, and environmental stewardship in the face of a changing climate.
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 Sheldon Springs -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Missisquoi River At Swanton | 674 cfs | → |
| Missisquoi River Near East Berkshire | 462 cfs | → |
| Lamoille River At East Georgia | 753 cfs | → |
| Little Chazy River Near Chazy Ny | 46 cfs | → |
| Lamoille River At Johnson | 354 cfs | → |
| W Branch Little R Abv Bingham Falls Near Stowe | 9 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sheldon Springs .
Boat launches
- Launch Road 99, Franklin
- Lake Road Franklin
- Spring Street Highgate
- State Route 36 Fairfield
- Moreau Drive Swanton
- West Shore Road Alburgh
Track Sheldon Springs 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 Sheldon Springs
Where does the data for Sheldon Springs 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 Sheldon Springs .