West Hill Pond
West Hill Pond is a masonry dam located in Washington County, Vermont, built in 1820. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About West Hill Pond
The primary purpose of West Hill Pond is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is private-owned. It impounds the Jug Brook-tr near Cabot.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 212 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 172 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1820, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 07/12/2024.
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 | Washington |
| Nearest City | Cabot |
| River/Stream | Jug Brook-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.41458, -72.34023 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 212 ft |
| Year Completed | 1820 (206 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 172 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 172 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 113 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 38 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 07/12/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00083 |
| Federal ID | VT00083 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |