Lakota Lake dam
Lakota Lake
Lakota Lake, located in Windsor, Vermont, is a picturesque recreational lake nestled in the serene surroundings of the Richmond Brook. This privately owned Earth dam, standing at 16 feet in height, was completed in 1891 and offers a storage capacity of 200 acre-feet. With a surface area of 22 acres and a drainage area of 0.54 square miles, Lakota Lake provides ample opportunities for water enthusiasts to enjoy various recreational activities in a tranquil setting.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Lakota Lake is regulated, inspected, and enforced to ensure its safety and structural integrity. The dam's condition is assessed as satisfactory, however, its significant hazard potential necessitates regular inspections every three years to uphold safety standards. Despite its age, the dam stands as a testament to historic engineering and continues to serve its primary purpose of providing a recreational haven for visitors to enjoy fishing, boating, and other water-based activities.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Lakota Lake presents a unique blend of historical significance and natural beauty. As one of Vermont's regulated private dams, it stands as a symbol of environmental stewardship and recreational enjoyment. With its idyllic setting and carefully maintained infrastructure, Lakota Lake invites visitors to immerse themselves in the beauty of nature while appreciating the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Lakota Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 64 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,850 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 509 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 18,000 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 75 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 701 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lakota Lake.
Boat launches
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
- Vt 100 Plymouth
- Fishing Access Road Ludlow
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Silver Lake State Park
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Gifford Woods State Park
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Quechee State Park
- Chittenden Brook Campground
Fishing spots
Track Lakota 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 Lakota Lake
Where does the data for Lakota 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 Lakota Lake.