Waterbury Dam
Encyclopedia
The Waterbury Dam was built between 1935-1938 by 2,000 men working for the Corps of Engineers
, United States Army
, to serve as one of three dams to control the flow of Little River, Vermont
, Winooski River
and its tributaries. In 1927, flood waters from the Winooski River killed over 55 people and caused an estimated $13,000,000 in damage. Along with flood control, the dam also generates electric energy, generating an average of 15000000 kilowatt-hours (54,000,000 MJ) annually.
The 1845 feet (562.4 m) long dam is filled with 2200000 cubic yards (1,682,020.7 m³) of material, including 3490 cubic yards (2,668 m³) of clay in its center portion. The rocks, which serve as the dams walls, were hand placed during the dam's original construction in 1938. The dam was modified in 1957 and 1958 to provide for increased security.
The dam and the reservoir it creates, the Waterbury Reservoir, are located in the town of Waterbury
in northwestern Washington County
.
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
, United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, to serve as one of three dams to control the flow of Little River, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Winooski River
Winooski River
The Winooski River is a tributary of Lake Champlain, approximately long, in northern Vermont in the United States. Although not Vermont's longest river, it is one of the state's most significant, forming a major valley way from Lake Champlain through the Green Mountains towards the Connecticut...
and its tributaries. In 1927, flood waters from the Winooski River killed over 55 people and caused an estimated $13,000,000 in damage. Along with flood control, the dam also generates electric energy, generating an average of 15000000 kilowatt-hours (54,000,000 MJ) annually.
The 1845 feet (562.4 m) long dam is filled with 2200000 cubic yards (1,682,020.7 m³) of material, including 3490 cubic yards (2,668 m³) of clay in its center portion. The rocks, which serve as the dams walls, were hand placed during the dam's original construction in 1938. The dam was modified in 1957 and 1958 to provide for increased security.
The dam and the reservoir it creates, the Waterbury Reservoir, are located in the town of Waterbury
Waterbury, Vermont
Waterbury is a town in Washington County in central Vermont, in the United States. It is also the name of a village within that town. The population was 4,915 at the 2000 census.-Economy:-Industry:...
in northwestern Washington County
Washington County, Vermont
Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Vermont. As of 2010, the population was 59,534; Vermont's third-most populous county after Chittenden County and Rutland County. Its shire town is Montpelier, the state capital. The center of population of Vermont is located in Washington...
.
External links
- U.S. Corps of Engineers Waterbury Dam, Waterbury, Vermont, Dam Safety Assurance Program. Fact Sheet