Dow Pond dam
Dow Pond
Dow Pond, located in Middlebury, Vermont, is a privately owned water resource regulated by the state's Department of Environmental Conservation. Built in 1920, this Earth dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a storage capacity of 130 acre-feet. The pond covers an area of 12 acres and is fed by the Muddy Branch stream, serving as a vital water source for the surrounding area.
Despite its historical significance, Dow Pond faces challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which has been rated as poor. With a significant hazard potential, the dam requires regular inspections every three years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The last inspection in April 2018 raised concerns about the dam's ability to withstand potential emergencies, prompting the need for improved risk management measures and emergency action preparedness.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Dow Pond presents a unique case study in the intersection of historical infrastructure, environmental regulation, and risk management. As efforts continue to address the dam's condition and emergency preparedness, there is a growing need for collaboration between private owners, state agencies, and community stakeholders to safeguard this important water source for future generations.
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 Dow Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otter Creek At Middlebury | 1,520 cfs | → |
| New Haven River At Brooksville Nr Middlebury | 280 cfs | → |
| Little Otter Creek At Ferrisburg | 125 cfs | → |
| Lewis Creek At North Ferrisburg | 172 cfs | → |
| Putnam Creek East Of Crown Point Center Ny | 373 cfs | → |
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 93 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Dow Pond.
Boat launches
- Vt 17 Addison
- Willowbrook Road Sudbury
- Vt 125 Addison
- Bridge Road Essex County
- Camp Road Monkton
- Button Bay Public Boat Access
Campgrounds
- Sparks Landing Primitive Campsite
- Lake Dunmore Kampersville
- Moosalamoo Campground
- Moosalamoo
- Branbury State Park
- Silver Lake Campground
Fishing spots
- Black Pond Access Point
- Lefferts Pond Area
- Combination Pond
- Heinburg Bridge Fishing Access Pier
- Moses Pond
Track Dow 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 Dow Pond
Where does the data for Dow 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 Dow Pond.