Gorton Pond Dam
Gorton Pond Dam is a masonry dam located in New London County, Connecticut, built in 1860. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Gorton Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Gorton Pond 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 Pataguandet River near Niantic.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 225 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 55 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 810 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1860, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/16/2023.
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Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | New London |
| Nearest City | Niantic |
| River/Stream | Pataguandet River |
| Coordinates | 41.33596, -72.20744 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 225 ft |
| Year Completed | 1860 (166 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 810 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 810 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 55 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 930 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connecticut DEEP |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00157 |
| Federal ID | CT00157 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |