Ashland Pond Dam
Ashland Pond Dam is an earth dam located in New London County, Connecticut, built in 1800. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Ashland Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Ashland Pond 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 Pachaug River near Jewett City.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 83 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 61 square miles. Completed in 1800, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/23/2023.
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 London |
| Nearest City | Jewett City |
| River/Stream | Pachaug River |
| Coordinates | 41.60557, -71.97721 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 450 ft |
| Year Completed | 1800 (226 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 502 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 83 acres |
| Drainage Area | 61 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,335 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connecticut DEEP |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00437 |
| Federal ID | CT00437 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |