Melcher is an earth dam located in Rutland County, Vermont, built in 1969. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 22 ft22 ft tall and 282 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Melcher
The primary purpose of Melcher is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by David Cannata (private). It impounds the Little Pond-tr near Wells.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 282 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 206 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 08/18/2014. That was over 12 years ago.
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Location
| State | Vermont |
| County | Rutland |
| Nearest City | Wells |
| River/Stream | Little Pond-tr |
| Coordinates | 43.44739, -73.19473 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 282 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 206 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 206 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | David Cannata |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2014 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00124 |
| Federal ID | VT00124 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |