East Calais Mill dam
East Calais Mill
The East Calais Mill, also known as Moscow Mills, is a historic dam located in Calais, Vermont along the Kingsbury Branch river. Built in 1900, this concrete gravity dam stands at 18 feet tall and spans 100 feet in length, providing recreational opportunities for visitors in the area. With a storage capacity of 53 acre-feet, this dam serves as a picturesque backdrop for outdoor enthusiasts looking to enjoy the surrounding 6-acre surface area.
Managed by private owners and regulated by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the East Calais Mill dam is deemed to have a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment. Despite its age, regular inspections ensure that the dam remains structurally sound and safe for recreational use. The dam's location in Washington County, Vermont, offers a serene setting for visitors to appreciate the natural beauty of the area while also understanding the importance of responsible water resource management in the face of climate change challenges.
As a part of the New England District, the East Calais Mill serves as a reminder of the historical significance of dams in the region while highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure their safety and longevity. With its multi-arch design and rock and soil foundations, this dam stands as a testament to the engineering prowess of its time, inviting water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the intersection of human ingenuity and environmental stewardship in managing our water resources for future generations.
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 East Calais Mill -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Branch Winooski River At Wrightsville | 388 cfs | → |
| Winooski River At Montpelier | 1,320 cfs | → |
| Dog River At Northfield Falls | 191 cfs | → |
| Mad River Near Moretown | 312 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Waterbury | 351 cfs | → |
| Pope Brook (Site W-3) Nr. N. Danville | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near East Calais Mill.
Boat launches
- G A R Road 285, Calais
- Nelson Pond Road Woodbury
- Justa Road Calais
- Molly's Pond Boat Launch
- Peacham Pond Boat Ramp
- North Pond Road Walden
Campgrounds
- New Discovery State Park
- Big Deer State Park
- Stillwater State Park
- Ricker Pond State Park
- Elmore State Park
- Lake Elmore State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Folsom Brook
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Headwaters At Profile Lake To Southern Boundary Of Franconia Notch State Park
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
More reservoirs
Track East Calais Mill 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 East Calais Mill
Where does the data for East Calais Mill 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 East Calais Mill.