Nichols

About Nichols

Nichols is a dam in Washington, Vermont. The dam is owned by Hardwick Electric Department (local government). It impounds the Nichols Brook near Woodbury.

The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 167 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,841 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/27/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.

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.