Caspian Lake dam
Caspian Lake
Caspian Lake, located in Greensboro, Vermont, is a picturesque body of water with a rich history dating back to its completion in 1929. This man-made reservoir serves as a vital source of hydroelectric power and offers recreational opportunities for visitors to enjoy. With a dam height of 7 feet and a storage capacity of 4300 acre-feet, Caspian Lake plays a significant role in the local community's water resource management.
Despite its importance, recent assessments have raised concerns about the dam's condition, with a poor rating and significant hazard potential. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), which oversees its regulation, inspection, and enforcement. It is essential for stakeholders to address these maintenance issues to ensure the safety and sustainability of Caspian Lake for both its hydroelectric function and recreational use.
As climate change continues to impact water resources, the responsible management of structures like Caspian Lake becomes increasingly crucial. Engaging in risk assessments, emergency preparedness planning, and regular inspections are essential steps to mitigate potential hazards and ensure the long-term viability of this valuable water source. It is imperative for local government authorities and stakeholders to work together to address the dam's maintenance needs and safeguard the future of Caspian Lake for generations to come.
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 Caspian Lake -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 9 cfs | → |
| Sleepers River (Site W-5) Near St. Johnsbury | 98 cfs | → |
| Lamoille River At Johnson | 838 cfs | → |
| Passumpsic River At Passumpsic | 1,110 cfs | → |
| East Branch Passumpsic River Near East Haven | 144 cfs | → |
| Black River At Coventry | 335 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Caspian Lake.
Boat launches
- Horse Pond Road Greensboro
- Wolcott Pond Road Wolcott
- Cold Spring Lane Glover
- Shadow Lake Road Glover
- North Pond Road Walden
- Access Lane Glover
Campgrounds
Paddle runs
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Woodstock/Thornton Town Line To Thornton Railroad Bridge
Track Caspian 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 Caspian Lake
Where does the data for Caspian 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 Caspian Lake.