Wolcott

About Wolcott

The primary purpose of Wolcott is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Hardwick Electric Department (local government). It impounds the Lamoille River near Wolcott.

The dam stands 52 feet tall and stretches 384 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 615 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 134 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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. The most recent inspection on record was 12/15/1992. That was 33 years ago — unusually long for a high-hazard dam, which typically requires more frequent inspections.

At 52 feet, this dam is taller than 93% of dams nationwide.

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.