Big Pond Dam
Big Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Windham County, Connecticut, built in 1870. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Big Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Big Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Big Pond Preservation Association (private). It impounds the Pigeon Swamp Brook near South Windham.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 32 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1870, 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 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 06/26/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Windham |
| Nearest City | South Windham |
| River/Stream | Pigeon Swamp Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.67300, -72.17614 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 165 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 510 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Big Pond Preservation Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/26/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00194 |
| Federal ID | CT00194 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |