North Springfield Dam
North Springfield Dam is a gravity dam located in Windsor County, Vermont, built in 1960. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About North Springfield Dam
The primary purpose of North Springfield 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 Usace - New England District (federal). It impounds the Black River near Springfield.
The dam stands 118 feet tall and stretches 2,940 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 100 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 76,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 158 square miles. Completed in 1960, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/02/2022.
At 118 feet, this dam is taller than 98% of all dams in the United States.
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 Vermont 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 | Vermont |
| County | Windsor |
| Nearest City | Springfield |
| River/Stream | Black River |
| Coordinates | 43.33765, -72.50947 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Height | 118 ft |
| Dam Length | 2,940 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 76,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 76,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 100 acres |
| Drainage Area | 158 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 117,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - New England District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 05/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00003 |
| Federal ID | VT00003 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |