Deep River Reservoir Dam
Deep River Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in New London County, Connecticut, built in 1926. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Deep River Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Deep River 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 Norwich (local government). It impounds the Deep River near Fitchville.
The dam stands 62 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 320 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1926, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 11/21/2024.
At 62 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | New London |
| Nearest City | Fitchville |
| River/Stream | Deep River |
| Coordinates | 41.55532, -72.24322 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Height | 62 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1926 (100 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,520 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 320 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 18,860 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Norwich |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/21/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00346 |
| Federal ID | CT00346 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |