Newbrough Upper dam
Newbrough Upper
Newbrough Upper is a privately owned dam located in Washington County, Vermont, specifically in the city of Berlin. Built in 1965 by the NRCS, this earth dam is primarily used for recreation, with a height of 23 feet and a length of 370 feet. The dam holds a storage capacity of 28 acre-feet and sits on the Dog River-TR, within the New England District of the USACE.
Despite its recreational purposes, Newbrough Upper has been assessed as being in poor condition with a significant hazard potential. The last inspection conducted in July 2015 revealed the dam's structural deficiencies, prompting a frequent inspection schedule of every 3 years. The state jurisdiction and regulation by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation ensure that the dam meets necessary safety standards, although improvements may be needed to address its current condition.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in Newbrough Upper can observe how this dam contributes to the local landscape and recreational activities in the area. With the potential for significant hazard, there is a call for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for both recreational users and the surrounding environment. The presence of the Dog River adds to the ecological importance of this dam, making it a focal point for water resource management in the region.
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 Newbrough Upper -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Dog River At Northfield Falls | 185 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 1,150 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 296 cfs | → |
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 285 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Waterbury | 340 cfs | → |
| East Orange Branch At East Orange | 27 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Newbrough Upper.
Boat launches
- State Route 100b Moretown
- Rood Pond Road Williamstown
- Vt 12 Brookfield
- Blush Hill Road 2698, Waterbury
- Little River Road 417, Waterbury
- Justa Road Calais
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
More reservoirs
Track Newbrough Upper 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 Newbrough Upper
Where does the data for Newbrough Upper 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 Newbrough Upper.