Lake Saltonstall Dam
Lake Saltonstall Dam is an earth dam located in New Haven County, Connecticut, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Saltonstall Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Saltonstall 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 Farm River near East Haven.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 396 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1882, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/16/2024.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% 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 | East Haven |
| River/Stream | Farm River |
| Coordinates | 41.27778, -72.86063 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,700 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 396 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | South Central CT RWA |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00115 |
| Federal ID | CT00115 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |