The DSP is responsible for management and operation of 14 dams owned by the VT Department of Environmental Conservation. This includes the three Winooski River flood-control dams: Waterbury, Wrightsville, and East-Barre.
High Hazard:
East Barre Dam
Town: Barre Town, VT
Location: 44.155, -72.4443
Hazard Class: High Hazard
Background: The East Barre dam was constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps under the supervision of the U.S. Army and was completed in the fall of 1935 for the purpose of flood control. Additional modifications to the East Barre Dam were performed between 1959 and 1960.
Current Purpose: Flood Control
Dam Type: Earth Embankment
Dam Height: 65 feet
Dam Length: 1,460 feet
Drainage Area: 39 square miles
Maximum Storage: 23,550 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Waterbury Dam
Town: Waterbury, VT
Location: 44.3813, -72.7677
Hazard Class: High Hazard
Background: The construction of the Waterbury Dam was completed in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) under the supervision of the Corps of Engineers (USACE) as part of the Winooski Flood Control Projects.
Current Purpose: Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Recreation
Dam Types: Earth Embankment
Dam Height: 187 feet.
Dam Length: 2,130 feet
Drainage Area: 109 square miles
Maximum Storage: 88,000 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Waterbury Dam Spillway Project (2022-2027) - Currently in Design/Field Exploration
Wrightsville Dam
Town: Middlesex, VT
Stream: North Branch Winooski River
Location: 44.3107, -72.5744
Hazard Class: High Hazard
Background: The Wrightsville dam was constructed as part of the Winooski Flood Control Projects in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) under the supervision of the Corps of Engineers (USACE). It was modified to its current configuration in the early 1980s including a hydropower station.
Current Purpose: Flood Control, Hydroelectric, Recreation
Dam Type: Earth embankment
Dam Height: 115 feet
Dam Length: 1,525 feet
Drainage Area: 68 square miles
Maximum Storage: 36,000 miles
Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Project: Currently undergoing FERC relicensing. Washington Electric Company has filed for a renewal or new license for their hydroelectric facility at the dam.
Silver Lake Dam
Town: Barnard, VT
Location: 43.7288, -72.6186
Hazard Class: High Hazard
Background: The Silver Lake dam was constructed in 1968. These walls are placed against and doweled to existing concrete and masonry walls constructed as early as 1806. This embankment also serves as the foundation for a town highway, the North Road, running along the crest of the dam. The embankment was reconstructed in 1984.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Earth-fill dam with concrete core wall
Dam Height: 30 feet
Dam Length: 100 feet
Drainage Area: 1.7 square miles
Maximum Storage: 1,710 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plain: Yes
Project: Silver Lake Dam is currently part of the High Hazard Potential Dam assessment effort.
Signficant Hazard:
Crystal Lake Dam
Town: Barton, VT
Stream: Barton River
Hazard Class: Significant
Background: The Crystal Lake dam was constructed in the early 1800’s to provide mill power and was reconstructed in 1966.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Concrete and Stone Masonry
Dam Height: 17 feet
Dam Length: 65 feet
Drainage Area: 22.58 square miles
Maximum Storage: 6,740 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Project: The State has contracted with JP Sicard to complete a project to address leakage around the left side of the dam, replace the low-level outlet gate, and address other site improvements. The project is to be performed during the 2021 construction season. The work is funded through State Capital funds. The project will be performed with the use of a cofferdam that will allow lake levels to be maintained within normal ranges. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the project, please contact Ben Green at Benjamin.green@vermont.gov or 802-622-4093.
Miles Pond Dam
Town: Concord, VT
Stream: Miles Stream
Hazard Class: Significant Hazard
Background: The Miles Pond dam was constructed in 1969 by the Department of Water Resources and replaced an existing milldam, which had been at the site since at least 1900. The dam was reconstructed in 1993 to include a widened and stabilized emergency spillway.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Earth-fill dam with concrete core wall
Dam Height: 19 feet
Dam Length: 250 feet
Drainage Area: 6.54 square miles
Maximum Storage: 2,200 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: No (DSP working to develop one)
Project: The State is in the process of obtaining permits and bidding a project to replace the stoplogs at the dam, make concrete repairs, repair a sinkhole, install a boat barrier upstream of the dam, and address other site improvements.
As part of the Dam Safety Order Draft Decision, a public meeting is planned for (check with Steve). Please refer to the Environmental Notice Bulletin at (link) to review project plans, the draft decision, and provide comment.
The target is to perform the project during the 2021 construction season. The work is funded through State Capital funds. The project will be performed with the use of a cofferdam that will allow lake levels to be maintained within normal ranges. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the project, please contact Ben Green at Benjamin.green@vermont.gov or 802-622-4093.
Noyes Pond Dam
Town: Groton, VT
Stream: South Branch Wells River
Hazard Class: Significant Hazard
Background: The Noyes Pond dam was originally built in 1934 and parts of the dam were reconstructed in 1989.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Earth-fill, concrete dam
Dam Height: 17 feet
Dam Length: 453 feet
Drainage Area: 3.76 square miles
Maximum Storage: 350 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Yes
Project: None at this time.
Low Hazard:
Great Hosmer Pond Dam
Town: Craftsbury, VT
Location: 44.6832, -72.3676
Hazard Class: Low Hazard
Background: The Great Hosmer Pond dam was originally built in the early 1800’s. In 2012, parts of the dam were reconstructed.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Concrete Gravity Dam
Dam Height: 6 feet
Dam Length: 34 feet
Drainage Area: 1.25 square miles
Maximum Storage: 380 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Lake Bomoseen Dam
Town: Castleton, Vt
Stream: Castleton River tributary
Location: 43.6052, -73.2333
Hazard Class: Low Hazard
Background: The Lake Bomoseen dam was constructed on an unnamed tributary of the Castleton River around 1850 for the purpose of mill power. Records of reconstruction of the dam indicate major work was done in 1903, 1913, 1953, 1979, 1986, and 1994. The State acquired the site in 1969. Repairs to the concrete were conducted in 2016.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Concrete and Stone Masonry
Dam Height: 11 feet
Dam Length: 45 feet
Drainage Area: 37 square miles
Maximum Storage: 10,310 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Dam Operation: The State contracts with a Dam Operator who performs daily operations and maintenance of the dam. Operations are performed in accordance with Surface Water Rules, that is, the levels are generally maintained near gage zero favoring plus 3 inches in the summer months and favoring minus three inches in the winter months. In addition, the dam operator monitors the dam during flood events and observes and records daily water levels and provides that information to the State. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the dam or operations, please contact Ben Green at Benjamin.green@vermont.gov or 802-622-4093.
Lake Carmi Dam
Town: Franklin, VT
Location: 44.9897, -72.8482
Hazard Class: Low Hazard
Background: In 1969 the State of Vermont bought the property containing the Lake Carmi Dam and part of the Mill Pond, formerly known as LaBelle’s Mill, from Lucy and Shirley Bruso. In 1970, the dam was rebuilt, and the Mill Pond (Lake Carmi) was restored for recreational use.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Earth-fill Concrete
Dam Height: 9 feet
Dam Length: 160 feet
Drainage Area: 12.05 square miles
Maximum Storage: 6,200 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Project: The State is in the design phase of a project to make embankment repairs, replace the stoplogs with a gate system, decommission the existing low-level outlet, and address other site improvements.
Stay tuned as this project will go to permitting and the draft decision will be posted on the Environmental Notice Bulletin at (link) along with project plans.
The target is to perform the project during the 2022 construction season. The work will be funded through State Capital funds. The project will be performed with the use of a cofferdam that will allow lake levels to be maintained within normal ranges. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the project, please contact Ben Green at Benjamin.green@vermont.gov or 802-622-4093.
Lake Groton Dam
Town: Groton, VT
Location: 44.2508, -72.2537
Hazard Class: Low Hazard
Background: The dam was constructed to its current configuration in 1968. The stoplog bays and a 41-foott section of dam to the right of the principal spillway were rehabilitated in 2011.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Concrete gravity dam
Dam Height: 13 feet
Dam Length: 598 feet
Drainage Area: 18.75 square miles
Maximum Storage: 5,148 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Lake Morey Dam
Town: Fairlee, VT
Stream: Connecticut River tributary
Location: 43.9106, -72.1576
Hazard Class: Low Hazard
Background: The Lake Morey Dam was constructed in 1897 and was reconstructed in 1949.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Concrete gravity dam
Dam Height: 5 feet
Dam Length: 20 feet
Drainage Area: 7.26 square miles
Maximum Storage: 2,150 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Little Hosmer Pond Dam
Town: Craftsbury, VT
Location: 44.6665, -72.3758
Hazard Class: Low hazard
Background: The Little Hosmer Pond Dam was constructed in 1969.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Earth-fill concrete gravity dam
Dam Height: 7 feet
Dam Length: 200 feet
Drainage Area: 2.8 square miles
Maximum Storage: 825 acre-feet
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Wolcott Pond Dam
Town: Wolcott, VT
Location: 44.5682, -72.4266
Hazard Class: Low Hazard
Background: Wolcott Pond dam was constructed in 1968. In 2015 the outlet pipe was replaced, and trees were cleared from the dam.
Current Purpose: Recreation
Dam Type: Earth embankment
Dam Height: 9 feet
Dam Length: 270 feet
Drainage Area: 1.44 square miles
Maximum Storage: 550 acre-miles
Emergency Action Plan: Not required
Project: None at this time.