Happy Acres Dam
Happy Acres Dam is an earth dam located in Windham County, Connecticut, built in 1973. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Happy Acres Dam
The primary purpose of Happy Acres Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by The Salvation Army (private). It impounds the Lowry Brook near Ashford.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 230 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 90 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1973, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 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 04/22/2020.
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Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Windham |
| Nearest City | Ashford |
| River/Stream | Lowry Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.86765, -72.20704 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 230 ft |
| Year Completed | 1973 (53 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 410 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 90 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 230 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | The Salvation Army |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/22/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00464 |
| Federal ID | CT00464 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |