Ellithorpe Flood Control Site #5 Dam
Ellithorpe Flood Control Site #5 Dam is an earth dam located in Tolland County, Connecticut, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Ellithorpe Flood Control Site #5 Dam
The primary purpose of Ellithorpe Flood Control Site #5 Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Connecticut Deep (state). It impounds the Middle River near Stafford.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 4,250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 371 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 5,860 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1968, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/02/2023.
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 | Tolland |
| Nearest City | Stafford |
| River/Stream | Middle River |
| Coordinates | 41.99689, -72.32307 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 4,250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 5,860 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 5,860 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,070 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 371 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,400 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Connecticut DEEP |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00481 |
| Federal ID | CT00481 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |