Institute Pond is an earth dam located in Caledonia County, Vermont, built in 1911. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 26 ft26 ft tall and 250 ft long, taller than 55% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Institute Pond
Institute Pond is a dam in Caledonia, Vermont. The dam is owned by Lyndon Institute (private). It impounds the Passumpsic River-tr near Lyndon.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 41 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1911, 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. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/22/2024.
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 | Caledonia |
| Nearest City | Lyndon |
| River/Stream | Passumpsic River-tr |
| Coordinates | 44.53708, -72.01638 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1911 (115 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 41 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 305 cfs |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Lyndon Institute |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/22/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00216 |
| Federal ID | VT00216 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |