Middle Lanesville Dike
Middle Lanesville Dike is an earth dam located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, built in 1929. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Middle Lanesville Dike
The primary purpose of Middle Lanesville Dike is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Firstlight Power Services Llc (public utility). It impounds the Rocky River near New Milford.
The dam stands 45 feet tall and stretches 260 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5,600 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 172,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 40 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 07/25/2022.
At 45 feet, this dam is taller than 91% 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 | Litchfield |
| Nearest City | New Milford |
| River/Stream | Rocky River |
| Coordinates | 41.52790, -73.43710 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Height | 45 ft |
| Dam Length | 260 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 172,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 172,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 158,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5,600 acres |
| Drainage Area | 40 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,280 cfs |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | FirstLight Power Services LLC |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/25/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00224 |
| Federal ID | CT00224S003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |