Middle Brook
Middle Brook is an earth dam located in Orange County, Vermont, built in 1948. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Middle Brook
The primary purpose of Middle Brook is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Mark Harper (private). It impounds the Middle Brook near West Fairlee.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 215 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 185 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 9 square miles. Completed in 1948, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. 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 08/05/2015. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Vermont |
| County | Orange |
| Nearest City | West Fairlee |
| River/Stream | Middle Brook |
| Coordinates | 43.91562, -72.23653 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 215 ft |
| Year Completed | 1948 (78 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 9 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MARK HARPER |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/05/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00093 |
| Federal ID | VT00093 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |