Shuttle Meadow Reservoir Dam
Shuttle Meadow Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hartford County, Connecticut, built in 1894. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Shuttle Meadow Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Shuttle Meadow Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of New Britain (local government). It impounds the Willow Brook near New Britain.
The dam stands 48 feet tall and stretches 650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 230 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,100 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1894, the structure is over a century old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/26/2022.
At 48 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Hartford |
| Nearest City | New Britain |
| River/Stream | Willow Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.64542, -72.81901 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 48 ft |
| Dam Height | 35 ft |
| Dam Length | 650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1894 (132 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,100 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 230 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 670 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of New Britain |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00162 |
| Federal ID | CT00162 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |