Union Village Dam
Union Village Dam is a gravity dam located in Orange County, Vermont, built in 1950. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Union Village Dam
The primary purpose of Union Village 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 Ompompanoosuc River near Union Village.
The dam stands 164 feet tall and stretches 1,100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 49,640 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 126 square miles. Completed in 1950, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 06/10/2024.
At 164 feet, this dam is taller than 99% 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 | Orange |
| Nearest City | Union Village |
| River/Stream | Ompompanoosuc River |
| Coordinates | 43.79359, -72.25797 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 164 ft |
| Dam Height | 164 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1950 (76 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 49,640 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 49,640 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 126 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 84,900 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 | 06/10/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00005 |
| Federal ID | VT00005 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |