Pickerel Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, built in 1870. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 535 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 Pickerel Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pickerel Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Connecticut Deep (state). It impounds the Pickerel Lake Brook near East Haddam.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 535 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 88 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 886 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1870, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 03/21/2022.
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Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | East Haddam |
| River/Stream | Pickerel Lake Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.52430, -72.42039 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 535 ft |
| Year Completed | 1870 (156 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 886 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 886 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 886 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 88 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,411 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connecticut Deep |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/21/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00355 |
| Federal ID | CT00355 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |