West Thompson Dam - Reardon Road Dike
West Thompson Dam - Reardon Road Dike is a gravity dam located in Windham County, Connecticut, built in 1965. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About West Thompson Dam - Reardon Road Dike
The primary purpose of West Thompson Dam - Reardon Road Dike is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - New England District (federal). It impounds the Quinebaug River near Putnam.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 1,650 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 47,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 174 square miles. Completed in 1965, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/05/2021.
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 | Putnam |
| River/Stream | Quinebaug River |
| Coordinates | 41.95613, -71.89484 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,650 ft |
| Year Completed | 1965 (61 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 47,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 47,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 174 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 63,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - New England District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/05/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00502 |
| Federal ID | CT00502S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |