Indian Brook Reservoir
Indian Brook Reservoir is a concrete dam located in Chittenden County, Vermont, built in 1957. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Indian Brook Reservoir
The primary purpose of Indian Brook Reservoir is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Essex (local government). It impounds the Indian Brook near Essex.
The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 238 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,157 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/01/2024.
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 Vermont 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 | Vermont |
| County | Chittenden |
| Nearest City | Essex |
| River/Stream | Indian Brook |
| Coordinates | 44.53080, -73.09741 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 31 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 238 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,157 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,157 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,084 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,853 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | TOWN OF ESSEX |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/01/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00055 |
| Federal ID | VT00055 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |