Wangum Lake Dam
Wangum Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Litchfield County, Connecticut, built in 1890. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Wangum Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wangum Lake Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Aquarion Water Company Of Connecticut (public utility). It impounds the Wangum Lake Brook near Canaan.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 178 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 714 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1890, 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 05/13/2021.
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Location
| State | Connecticut |
| County | Litchfield |
| Nearest City | Canaan |
| River/Stream | Wangum Lake Brook |
| Coordinates | 41.97410, -73.26679 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 714 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 714 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 543 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 178 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 14 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Aquarion Water Company of Connecticut |
| Owner Type | Public Utility |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00516 |
| Federal ID | CT00516 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |