West Lake
West Lake is an earth dam located in Windham County, Vermont, built in 2015. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About West Lake
The primary purpose of West Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mt. Snow Ltd (private). It impounds the Cold Brook-tr near Wilmington.
The dam stands 56 feet tall and stretches 2,625 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 11 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 405 acre-feet. Completed in 2015, the structure is relatively new.
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. The most recent inspection on record was 08/02/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
At 56 feet, this dam is taller than 94% of dams nationwide.
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 | Windham |
| Nearest City | Wilmington |
| River/Stream | Cold Brook-tr |
| Coordinates | 42.91532, -72.87363 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Height | 56 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,625 ft |
| Year Completed | 2015 (11 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 405 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 405 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 11 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MT. SNOW LTD |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/02/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00374 |
| Federal ID | VT00374 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |