Peat Swamp Reservoir Dam
Peat Swamp Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in New Haven County, Connecticut, built in 1925. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Peat Swamp Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Peat Swamp Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by South Central Ct Rwa (public utility). It impounds the Beaver Brook near +.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 60 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,990 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1925, 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 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 04/26/2024.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% 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 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 | New Haven |
| Nearest City | + |
| River/Stream | Beaver Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.36986, -73.05881 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
| Year Completed | 1925 (101 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,990 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,990 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,660 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 60 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 600 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | South Central CT RWA |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00088 |
| Federal ID | CT00088 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |