Castleton State College dam
Castleton State College
Castleton State College, located in Rutland, Vermont, is home to a picturesque dam on the Poultney River constructed in 1967 for recreational purposes. The dam, primarily made of concrete, stands at a height of 10 feet and stretches 290 feet in length, providing a surface area of 2 acres and a drainage area of 2.81 square miles. Despite its relatively small size, the dam boasts a storage capacity of 18 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 8 acre-feet.
With a spillway width of 65 feet and an uncontrolled spillway type, the dam at Castleton State College presents a significant hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as fair during the last inspection in August 2013. The dam's risk assessment is classified as moderate, indicating a level 3 risk. Despite being regulated and permitted by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, the dam's emergency action plan status and risk management measures remain unspecified, leaving room for potential improvements in its safety and emergency response protocols. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, exploring the unique blend of recreation and hydrology at Castleton State College's dam offers a fascinating study in balancing human enjoyment with environmental protection and safety considerations.
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 Castleton State College -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poultney River Below Fair Haven | 352 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 643 cfs | → |
| Mettawee River Near Middle Granville Ny | 263 cfs | → |
| Mettawee River Near Pawlet | 215 cfs | → |
| Ottauquechee River Near West Bridgewater | 51 cfs | → |
| Putnam Creek East Of Crown Point Center Ny | 373 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Castleton State College.
Boat launches
- Kinni Kinnic Lane Poultney
- Lhcs Road Hubbardton
- West Lake Road Wells
- Sudbury
- Skenesborough Drive 4, Whitehall
- Lake Road 4819, Benson
Campgrounds
- Bomoseen State Park
- Half Moon Pond State Park
- St. Catherine State Park
- Country Village Campground
- Little Rock Pond Tenting Area
- Little Rock Pond/Green Mountain Loop
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- South Wallington To Emerald Lake
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- Confluence With Otter Creek To Ten Kilns Brook
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
More reservoirs
Track Castleton State College 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 Castleton State College
Where does the data for Castleton State College 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 Castleton State College.