Merriman Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 475 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Merriman Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Merriman Pond 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 Smith Pond Bk Trib near Watertown.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 475 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 | Watertown |
| River/Stream | Smith Pond Bk Trib |
| Coordinates | 41.63438, -73.11409 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 475 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 170 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 170 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 336 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 | CT00128 |
| Federal ID | CT00128 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |