Bronson dam
Bronson
Bronson is a private recreational dam located in West Windsor, Vermont, on Lulls Brook. Built in 1976 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a length of 260 feet, providing a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet. The dam, primarily used for recreation, is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, Bronson is currently in fair condition according to a 2017 assessment. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway and is surrounded by a surface area of 4 acres within a drainage area of 0.13 square miles. The risk assessment for Bronson is moderate, indicating a level 3 risk, but specific risk management measures have not been outlined. The last inspection of the dam took place in 2013, with inspections occurring every 3 years to monitor its condition and safety.
Bronson provides not only a recreational outlet for the community but also serves as an important water resource in the area. It is essential to continue monitoring and maintaining this dam to ensure its structural integrity and the safety of those downstream. The collaboration between the USDA NRCS, state regulators, and local officials is crucial in managing the risk associated with this significant dam.
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 Bronson -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ottauquechee River At North Hartland | 658 cfs | → |
| Sugar River At West Claremont | 1,190 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At West Lebanon | 24,000 cfs | → |
| White River At West Hartford | 2,330 cfs | → |
| Black River At North Springfield | 521 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 79 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bronson.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Ascutney Mt Stone Hut
- Mt. Ascutney State Park
- Quechee State Park
- Forest Campsite With Stream & Fire Ring
- Calvin Coolidge State Park
- Velvet Rocks Shelter
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Headwaters To Crossing Of Route 100 Near Route 155
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Confluence With Otter Creek To Ten Kilns Brook
- South Wallington To Emerald Lake
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
More reservoirs
Track Bronson 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 Bronson
Where does the data for Bronson 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 Bronson.