Gardner Lake Dam

Gardner Lake Dam is a concrete dam located in New London County, Connecticut, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Gardner Lake Dam

The primary purpose of Gardner 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 Gardner Brook near Fitchville.

The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 168 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 521 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 3,270 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 5 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century old.

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 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 10/29/2021.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateConnecticut
CountyNew London
Nearest CityFitchville
River/StreamGardner Brook
Coordinates41.52544, -72.22240

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeConcrete
NID Height10 ft
Dam Height10 ft
Dam Length168 ft
Year Completed1900 (126 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage3,270 acre-ft
Max Storage3,270 acre-ft
Normal Storage3,270 acre-ft
Surface Area521 acres
Drainage Area5 sq mi
Max Discharge235 cfs

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerConnecticut DEEP
Owner TypeState
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection10/29/2021
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDCT00512
Federal IDCT00512
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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