Gillett Pond dam
Gillett Pond
Gillett Pond, located in Chittenden, Vermont, is a private dam that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1900, this earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet and spans a length of 125 feet, with a storage capacity of 150 acre-feet. Situated on Johns Brook, this dam has a surface area of 26 acres and drains an area of 2.3 square miles. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2013 reported it as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and possible repairs.
The Vermont dam, under the jurisdiction of the state regulatory agency DEC, is subject to permitting, inspection, and enforcement measures to ensure public safety and environmental protection. Although the last inspection took place in 2013 with a frequency of 10 years, the dam's emergency action plan (EAP) status and risk assessment details are not available. With its picturesque location and recreational significance, efforts to improve its condition, update emergency protocols, and mitigate potential risks should be prioritized to preserve Gillett Pond for future generations to enjoy.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Gillett Pond serves as a valuable example of a privately owned dam with historical significance and recreational potential. Its maintenance and safety measures are crucial in upholding its functionality and preserving the surrounding ecosystem, making it a focal point for ongoing discussions on dam management and climate resilience in the state of Vermont.
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 Gillett Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Waterbury | 340 cfs | → |
| Winooski River Near Essex Junction | 3,210 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 296 cfs | → |
| Laplatte River At Shelburne Falls | 76 cfs | → |
| Englesby Brook At Burlington | 15 cfs | → |
| Potash Br @ Queen City Park Rd | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gillett Pond.
Boat launches
- Warren And Ruth Beeken Rivershore Trail Richmond
- Lake Iroquois Boat Launch
- Little River Road 417, Waterbury
- Pond Access Road Shelburne
- Blush Hill Road 2698, Waterbury
- Camp Road Monkton
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Headwaters To Folsom 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
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
More reservoirs
Track Gillett 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 Gillett Pond
Where does the data for Gillett 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 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 Gillett Pond.