Lake Whitney Dam
Lake Whitney Dam is an earth dam located in New Haven County, Connecticut, built in 1861. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Lake Whitney Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Whitney 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 Mill River near New Haven.
The dam stands 44 feet tall and stretches 750 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 178 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 37 square miles. Completed in 1861, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 04/16/2024.
At 44 feet, this dam is taller than 90% 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 | New Haven |
| River/Stream | Mill River |
| Coordinates | 41.33688, -72.90990 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 44 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 750 ft |
| Year Completed | 1861 (165 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,720 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 178 acres |
| Drainage Area | 37 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 9,700 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 | 04/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00119 |
| Federal ID | CT00119 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |