Obed Heights Reservoir Dam
Obed Heights Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, built in 1880. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Obed Heights Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Obed Heights Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by David Murray;florence Bacon;gail Murray-ferris;piontkowski Revocable Trust (private). It impounds the Ragged Rock Creek near Old Saybrook.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1880, 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 10/19/2021.
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 | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Old Saybrook |
| River/Stream | Ragged Rock Creek |
| Coordinates | 41.31086, -72.37159 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | David Murray;Florence Bacon;Gail Murray-Ferris;Piontkowski Revocable Trust |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00414 |
| Federal ID | CT00414 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |