Hitchcock Lake Central Ave Dam
Hitchcock Lake Central Ave Dam is a dam located in New Haven County, Connecticut, built in 1868. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Hitchcock Lake Central Ave Dam
The primary purpose of Hitchcock Lake Central Ave 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 Wolcott (local government). It impounds the North Lake Hitchcock Lake near Wolcott.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 61 acres, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1868, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. Notably, no emergency action plan is currently on file for this high-hazard dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/05/2023.
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 | New Haven |
| Nearest City | Wolcott |
| River/Stream | North Lake Hitchcock Lake |
| Coordinates | 41.56370, -72.95192 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1868 (158 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| Surface Area | 61 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Wolcott |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00297 |
| Federal ID | CT00297S03 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |