Sunset Lake
Sunset Lake is a masonry dam located in Orange County, Vermont, built in 1850. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Sunset Lake
The primary purpose of Sunset Lake is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Jane Doerfer (private). It impounds the Sunset Brook near Brookfield.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 180 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/14/2015. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Vermont |
| County | Orange |
| Nearest City | Brookfield |
| River/Stream | Sunset Brook |
| Coordinates | 44.04195, -72.60414 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | JANE DOERFER |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/14/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00241 |
| Federal ID | VT00241 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |