Silver Lake
Silver Lake is a gravity dam located in Windsor County, Vermont, built in 1968. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Silver Lake
The primary purpose of Silver Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by State Of Vermont - Dec (state). It impounds the Pond Brook near Barnard.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 84 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,710 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1968, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/20/2024.
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 | Barnard |
| River/Stream | Pond Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.72879, -72.61858 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1968 (58 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,710 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,710 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,410 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 84 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 260 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | STATE OF VERMONT - DEC |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/20/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00065 |
| Federal ID | VT00065 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |