Meccawe Pond dam
Meccawe Pond
Meccawe Pond in Reading, Vermont, is a private recreational water resource with a significant history dating back to its completion in 1920. This Earth dam stands at 13 feet in height, providing a storage capacity of 85 acre-feet for its 1.3-acre drainage area. The pond covers 14 acres, offering a serene setting for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy activities like fishing, boating, and birdwatching.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Meccawe Pond is regulated, inspected, and enforced for safety and compliance with state regulations. Despite its fair condition assessment, the dam poses a significant hazard potential, prompting a regular inspection frequency of every three years. While the pond's spillway type, width, and outlet gates remain unspecified, the structure's stone core and soil foundations contribute to its sturdy construction and resilience against hydraulic forces.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Meccawe Pond presents an intriguing case study of a historic Earth dam that continues to serve as a vital recreational hub in Windsor County. With its captivating setting and essential role in local water management, the pond offers a prime example of how private owners and state agencies collaborate to ensure the safety and sustainability of such essential water resources. As ongoing assessments and risk management measures are implemented, Meccawe Pond stands as a reminder of the delicate balance between human recreation and environmental stewardship 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 Meccawe Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 79 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 658 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 2,330 cfs | → |
| Black River At North Springfield | 521 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 24,000 cfs | → |
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 1,190 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Meccawe Pond.
Boat launches
- Vt 100 Plymouth
- Fishing Access Road Ludlow
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
Campgrounds
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Gifford Woods State Park
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
- Silver Lake State Park
- Quechee State Park
Fishing spots
Track Meccawe Pond 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 Meccawe Pond
Where does the data for Meccawe Pond 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 Meccawe Pond.