Pownal Tannery dam
Pownal Tannery
The Pownal Tannery, also known as the Pownal Tanning Co. Dam, is a hydroelectric structure located on the Hoosic River in Bennington, Vermont. Constructed in 1984, this gravity dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a length of 153 feet. With a storage capacity of 490 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 5987 cubic feet per second, this dam serves the primary purpose of generating hydroelectric power.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the Pownal Tannery dam has a low hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating. While not currently regulated by the state, the dam is inspected every three years, with the last inspection taking place in July 2019. The spillway, with a width of 143 feet, is uncontrolled, allowing for the safe release of excess water during periods of high flow.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Pownal Tannery dam an intriguing structure, with its role in harnessing renewable hydroelectric energy and its impact on the surrounding environment. As a notable feature on the Hoosic River, this gravity dam stands as a testament to the intersection of human engineering and natural resources in Vermont's landscape.
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 Pownal Tannery -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Green River At Williamstown | 76 cfs | → |
| Walloomsac River Near North Bennington | 181 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Williamstown | 195 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Eagle Bridge Ny | 930 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River At Adams | 69 cfs | → |
| Hudson River At Lock 1 Near Waterford Ny | 8,410 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pownal Tannery .
Boat launches
- Pine Ridge Drive 27, Pownal
- South Stream Access Area Road Pownal
- Ashton Avenue North Adams
- State Fishing Access North Bennington
- Fairview Avenue 298, Wilmington
- Batten Kill Road Arlington
Campgrounds
- Sherman Brook Campsite
- Clarksburg State Park
- Stoney Ledge Group Site
- Historic Valley
- Birch Group Site
- Spruce Group Site
Track Pownal Tannery 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 Pownal Tannery
Where does the data for Pownal Tannery 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 Pownal Tannery .