Bethel Mills dam
Bethel Mills
Bethel Mills, a private hydroelectric dam located in Bethel, Vermont, harnesses the power of the Third Branch White River for energy production. Constructed in 1941 by designer Ray Durfee, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 17 feet and has a hydraulic height of 15 feet. With a storage capacity of 51 acre-feet and a drainage area of 137.97 square miles, Bethel Mills plays a crucial role in the local water resource management system.
Despite its age, Bethel Mills has a low hazard potential and has not been rated for its current condition. The dam, with a length of 150 feet and surface area of 10 acres, serves as a key infrastructure for the surrounding area. However, it has not been subject to recent inspections or maintenance, as the last inspection was carried out in May 1999. With no state regulation or permitting in place, Bethel Mills operates independently for hydroelectric purposes.
Although Bethel Mills has not been updated or modified in recent years, its contribution to the local energy supply and water management cannot be understated. As a historic dam that has stood the test of time, Bethel Mills continues to provide renewable energy and environmental benefits for the community. Its location within the picturesque Windsor County, Vermont, makes it a significant landmark for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate and learn from.
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 Bethel Mills -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 69 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 1,580 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 53 cfs | → |
| Ompompanoosuc River At Union Village | 16 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 6,790 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 427 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bethel Mills.
Boat launches
- Sanders Road Bethel
- Chittenden Dam Access Road Chittenden
- Vt 12 Brookfield
- Rood Pond Road Williamstown
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Post Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Silver Lake State Park
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Chittenden Brook Campground
- Chittenden Brook
- Gifford Woods State Park
- Bingo
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Bethel Mills 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 Bethel Mills
Where does the data for Bethel Mills 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 Bethel Mills.