Powers Lake Dam
Powers Lake Dam is a masonry dam located in New London County, Connecticut, built in 1870. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Powers Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Powers Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Connecticut Deep (state). It impounds the Pataguanset River near East Lyme.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 315 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 146 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,068 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 05/16/2023.
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Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | New London |
| Nearest City | East Lyme |
| River/Stream | Pataguanset River |
| Coordinates | 41.38718, -72.25036 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 315 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,068 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,068 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,068 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 146 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 168 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connecticut DEEP |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/16/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00155 |
| Federal ID | CT00155 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |