Great Falls is a concrete dam located in Caledonia County, Vermont, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 32 ft32 ft tall and 160 ft long, taller than 74% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Great Falls
The primary purpose of Great Falls 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 Village of Lyndonville Electric Department (local government). It impounds the Passumpsic River near St Johnsbury Center.
The dam stands 32 feet tall and stretches 160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 135 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 220 square miles. Completed in 1915, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 06/02/2022.
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Location
| State | Vermont |
| County | Caledonia |
| Nearest City | St Johnsbury Center |
| River/Stream | Passumpsic River |
| Coordinates | 44.50120, -71.99820 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Height | 32 ft |
| Dam Length | 160 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 135 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 220 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Village of Lyndonville Electric Department |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00200 |
| Federal ID | VT00200 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |