Dams Sites

The Winooski River Local Protection Project is located along a 6.5-mile stretch of the Winooski River which flows through Montpelier, Berlin, Moretown, and Middlesex. The Winooski River Local Protection Project protects several thousand acres of farmland and reduces flood damage in downstream communities, including Montpelier, Middlesex, Waterbury, and Duxbury.   The project consisted of replacing an old timber dam at Montpelier by a small concrete dam (now called Bailey Dam); clearing and grading one mile of river bank above the dam, enlarging the channel, and adding rip-rap; and removing projecting ledges and points that restricted river flows at five spots between...

A flood in 1927 brought about plans to construct four flood control projects, made possible by the New Deal and the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). Wrightsville Dam is one of those. Construction began in August 1933  and was completed in October 1935. The dam is earthfill with stone slope protection. It is 1,525 feet long and 115 feet high. The dam and reservoir are located on the North Branch of the Winooski River, about  three miles north of Montpelier on Route 12.  Its main purpose is to protect Montpelier. According to the US Army Corps of Engineers: "Wrightsville Reservoir was one of four...

The massive dam that impounds Wyandotte County Lake was constructed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA). "The construction of the Wyandotte County Lake (Marshall Creek) Dam began as a WPA project in 1936. On September 19,1937, with the project 90% completed, the dam collapsed. After re-engineering the dam was rebuilt ..." Facts and Figures (from county website): The dam is rolled earth core with hydraulic fill sand shell. The length of the dam is 1700 feet. Base width is 1000 feet. Crest width is 30 feet. The original depth after construction was 84 feet by the dam. Spillway length is 279 feet...

The outlet tower associated with the Wyandotte County Lake dam is one of numerous Works Progress Administration (WPA) structures constructed in the park. Dave McDermott writes: "In contract to the other original park buildings, the tower is built of smooth concrete, in an efficient, modernist style, with none of the rustic attributes seen elsewhere in the park."

This earthen dam, impounding the 133-acre Yellowwood Lake, in Yellowwood State Forest, was completed in 1938 with funds provided by the Works Progress Administration (WPA).