Vondell Reservoir dam
Vondell Reservoir
Vondell Reservoir, located in Woodstock, Vermont, is a private water supply reservoir regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation. Built in 1962 by Gratiot Engineering Co., this earth dam stands at 33 feet tall and has a storage capacity of 114 acre-feet. With a surface area of 7 acres and a drainage area of 0.65 square miles, Vondell Reservoir plays a crucial role in providing water to the surrounding area.
Despite its fair condition assessment as of July 2019, Vondell Reservoir poses a significant hazard potential due to its structural height and storage capacity. The dam is regularly inspected every three years to ensure its safety and integrity. In the event of an emergency, the reservoir's emergency action plan is yet to be prepared, highlighting the importance of proactive risk management and readiness in the face of potential disasters.
Vondell Reservoir stands as a vital water resource in the Windsor County region, serving as a testament to the intersection of human engineering and natural resource management. As climate change continues to impact water availability and quality, the maintenance and regulation of reservoirs like Vondell are essential in ensuring sustainable water supply for communities now and in the future.
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 Vondell Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 54 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,640 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 458 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 7,890 cfs | → |
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 598 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Vondell Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Vt 100 Plymouth
- Fishing Access Road Ludlow
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
Campgrounds
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Silver Lake State Park
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Quechee State Park
- Gifford Woods State Park
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Confluence With Otter Creek To Ten Kilns Brook
- South Wallington To Emerald Lake
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
More reservoirs
Track Vondell Reservoir 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 Vondell Reservoir
Where does the data for Vondell Reservoir 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 Vondell Reservoir.