Chestnut Hill Reservoir dam
Chestnut Hill Reservoir
Chestnut Hill Reservoir, located in Brattleboro, Vermont, is a concrete dam with a primary purpose of water supply for the surrounding area. Completed in 1884, this historic structure stands at 25 feet tall and spans 920 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 15 acre-feet. Situated on Whetstone Brook, the reservoir is owned and regulated by the local government, with state oversight from the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation.
Despite its age and historical significance, Chestnut Hill Reservoir faces challenges in terms of its condition and hazard potential. A recent inspection in June 2017 revealed a poor condition assessment, earning it a high hazard potential rating. With a lack of emergency action plans and updated risk assessments, there are concerns about the reservoir's ability to withstand potential disasters or emergencies.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Chestnut Hill Reservoir serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining and monitoring aging infrastructure to ensure the safety and reliability of our water supply systems. With ongoing regulatory oversight and potential risk management measures needed, the future of this historic dam remains a topic of interest and concern for those invested in sustainable water resource management.
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 Chestnut Hill Reservoir -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ashuelot River At Hinsdale | 971 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Colrain | 50 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River At West Swanzey | 745 cfs | → |
| West River Below Townshend Dam Near Townshend | 46 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Above The Branch | 21 cfs | → |
| Ashuelot River Below Surry Mt Dam | 317 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chestnut Hill Reservoir.
Boat launches
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Spofford Lake Boat Launch
- Lake Raponda Road Wilmington
- Swanzey Lake Boat Launch
- Wilson Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Fort Dummer State Park
- Molly Stark State Park
- Molly Stark State Park Campsites
- Pilgrim Pines Camping Area
- Swanzey Lake Camping Area
- Townshend State Park
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Headwaters To First Bridge
Track Chestnut Hill Reservoir 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 Chestnut Hill Reservoir
Where does the data for Chestnut Hill Reservoir 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 High 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 Chestnut Hill Reservoir.