Holdens Pond dam
Holdens Pond
Holdens Pond, also known as Eustis Pond and Patterson and Holden, is a private water resource located in Brookfield, Vermont. This picturesque pond serves primarily for recreational purposes and was completed in 1932 with a dam height of 16 feet and a storage capacity of 75 acre-feet. However, despite its historical significance, Holdens Pond has a significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment as of August 2019.
The dam at Holdens Pond is constructed primarily of masonry and stone, with a length of 215 feet and a surface area of 10 acres. The pond is regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and holds a state permit for operation, inspection, and enforcement. The last inspection of the dam was conducted in July 2015, with a recommended inspection frequency of every 3 years to ensure public safety and compliance with regulatory standards.
With its serene setting and recreational opportunities, Holdens Pond is a valuable asset to the community of Brookfield. However, ongoing maintenance and risk management measures are essential to address the significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment of the dam. Climate and water resource enthusiasts may find the history and regulatory oversight of Holdens Pond intriguing, as efforts continue to ensure its safe operation and preservation for future generations to enjoy.
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 Holdens Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ayers Brook At Randolph | 53 cfs | → |
| Dog River At Northfield Falls | 111 cfs | → |
| East Orange Branch At East Orange | 21 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 571 cfs | → |
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 115 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 228 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Holdens Pond.
Boat launches
- Rood Pond Road Williamstown
- Vt 12 Brookfield
- Sanders Road Bethel
- State Route 100b Moretown
- Justa Road Calais
- Blush Hill Road 2698, Waterbury
Campgrounds
- Allis State Park
- Yestermarrow Camp Ground
- Sparks Landing Primitive Campsite
- Bingo
- Silver Lake State Park
- Chittenden Brook Campground
Fishing spots
- Lefferts Pond Area
- Combination Pond
- Black Pond Access Point
- Heinburg Bridge Fishing Access Pier
- Moses Pond
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
More reservoirs
Track Holdens 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 Holdens Pond
Where does the data for Holdens 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 Holdens Pond.