Crystal Lake Dam
Crystal Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, built in 1850. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Crystal Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Crystal Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Connecticut Deep (state). It impounds the Prout Brook near Middletown.
The dam stands 50 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 30 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 350 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/18/2016. That was 9 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 50 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Connecticut dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Middletown |
| River/Stream | Prout Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.52491, -72.63809 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Height | 50 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 350 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 154 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 180 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connecticut DEEP |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/18/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00138 |
| Federal ID | CT00138 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |