Chestnut Hill Reservoir
Chestnut Hill Reservoir is a concrete dam located in Windham County, Vermont, built in 1884. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Chestnut Hill Reservoir
The primary purpose of Chestnut Hill Reservoir is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Brattleboro (local government). It impounds the Whetstone Brook near Brattleboro.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 920 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, and has a maximum storage capacity of 15 acre-feet. Completed in 1884, 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. The most recent inspection on record was 06/12/2017. That was 8 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.
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 | Windham |
| Nearest City | Brattleboro |
| River/Stream | Whetstone Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.85396, -72.56667 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 920 ft |
| Year Completed | 1884 (142 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 15 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | TOWN OF BRATTLEBORO |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/12/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | VT00361 |
| Federal ID | VT00361 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |