Lake Winnemaug Dam
Lake Winnemaug Dam is an earth dam located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Winnemaug Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Winnemaug Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Watertown (local government). It impounds the Wattles Brook near Oakville.
The dam stands 24 feet tall and stretches 500 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 122 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,050 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 11/29/2022.
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 | Litchfield |
| Nearest City | Oakville |
| River/Stream | Wattles Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.58201, -73.12519 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Height | 24 ft |
| Dam Length | 500 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,050 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 407 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 122 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 774 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Watertown |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/29/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00123 |
| Federal ID | CT00123 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |