Lake Bethany Dam
Lake Bethany Dam is a masonry dam located in New Haven County, Connecticut, built in 1892. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Bethany Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Bethany Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by South Central Ct Rwa (public utility). It impounds the West River near Lake Watrous.
The dam stands 66 feet tall and stretches 1,050 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 105 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,994 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1892, 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 04/26/2024.
At 66 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Lake Watrous |
| River/Stream | West River |
| Coordinates | 41.41292, -72.96832 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 66 ft |
| Dam Height | 61 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,050 ft |
| Year Completed | 1892 (134 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,994 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,994 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,850 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 105 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,645 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | South Central CT RWA |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 04/26/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00308 |
| Federal ID | CT00308 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |