Freshwater Pond Dam
Freshwater Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Hartford County, Connecticut, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Freshwater Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Freshwater Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Enfield (local government). It impounds the Freshwater Brook near Enfield.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a storage capacity of 54 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 08/15/2024.
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 | Enfield |
| River/Stream | Freshwater Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.99853, -72.59970 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 54 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Enfield |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/15/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00279 |
| Federal ID | CT00279 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |