Leesville Dam
Leesville Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Connecticut, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Leesville Dam
The primary purpose of Leesville 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 Salmon River near East Haddam.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 217 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 138 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 111 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 08/18/2022.
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 | East Haddam |
| River/Stream | Salmon River |
| Coordinates | 41.51669, -72.48294 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 217 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 138 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 111 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 10,232 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Connecticut DEEP |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | CT00662 |
| Federal ID | CT00662 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |