Equinox Pond dam
Equinox Pond
Equinox Pond, located in Manchester, Vermont, is a privately owned water resource that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1890, this earth dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a storage capacity of 40 acre-feet. The pond covers a surface area of 9 acres and is fed by the Batten Kill River. Despite its historical significance, Equinox Pond is currently rated as having poor condition assessment and poses a significant hazard potential due to its deteriorating state.
The dam, with a length of 450 feet, is regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. However, the last inspection conducted in August 2014 revealed a need for maintenance and improvements to ensure the safety and stability of the structure. The dam's hazard potential combined with its poor condition assessment underscores the importance of timely intervention to prevent any potential risks to the surrounding area and the local community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Equinox Pond presents a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of historical infrastructure, environmental conservation, and recreational use. As efforts are made to address the dam's maintenance issues and risk potential, there is a chance to showcase sustainable practices in preserving and managing water resources for future generations. The story of Equinox Pond serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced in balancing the needs of recreation, infrastructure, and environmental protection within the context of changing climate patterns.
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 Equinox Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West River At Jamaica | 628 cfs | → |
| Mettawee River Near Pawlet | 215 cfs | → |
| Batten Kill Below Mill At Battenville Ny | 968 cfs | → |
| Walloomsac River Near North Bennington | 181 cfs | → |
| West River Below Townshend Dam Near Townshend | 46 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Eagle Bridge Ny | 930 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Equinox Pond.
Boat launches
- Dufresne Pond Road Manchester
- Town Shed Road Manchester
- Batten Kill Road Arlington
- Gale Meadow Road Londonderry
- Somerset
- Winhall Station Road Londonderry
Campgrounds
- North Bourne Pond
- South Bourne Pond
- Camping On The Battenkill
- Stratton View Tenting Area
- Emerald Lake State Park
- Grout Pond Recreation Area
Fishing spots
Track Equinox 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 Equinox Pond
Where does the data for Equinox 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 Equinox Pond.