Lake Watrous Dam
Lake Watrous Dam is an earth dam located in New Haven County, Connecticut, built in 1915. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Watrous Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Watrous 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 Sargent River near Woodbridge.
The dam stands 116 feet tall and stretches 1,415 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 109 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1915, 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 116 feet, this dam is taller than 98% 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 | Woodbridge |
| River/Stream | Sargent River |
| Coordinates | 41.38511, -72.97250 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 116 ft |
| Dam Height | 51 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,415 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,230 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 109 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,800 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 | CT00318 |
| Federal ID | CT00318 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |