Wataba Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Fairfield County, Connecticut, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 190 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 Wataba Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wataba Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ridgefield Lakes Association (private). It impounds the Unnamed near Ridgefield.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 190 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 231 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 02/16/2021.
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Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Fairfield |
| Nearest City | Ridgefield |
| River/Stream | Unnamed |
| Coordinates | 41.34286, -73.49107 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 190 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 231 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 231 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 231 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 350 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ridgefield Lakes Association |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 02/16/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00222 |
| Federal ID | CT00222 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |