East Barre Dam facts for kids
The East Barre Dam is a large earthen dam located in East Barre, Vermont. It was built to help control floods and protect nearby towns, especially Barre.
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The East Barre Dam
This important dam is made of earth and stands about 65 feet (nearly 20 meters) tall. It stretches for 1,460 feet (about 445 meters) across the land. Its main job is to hold back the waters of the Jail Branch River, which is a smaller river that flows into the larger Winooski River.
Building the Dam
The East Barre Dam was constructed between 1933 and 1935. It was a big project overseen by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. What's really interesting is that most of the work was done by hand! This was thanks to a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The CCC was a program during the Great Depression that gave jobs to young men, helping them earn money while working on important public projects like this dam.
Why Was the Dam Built?
The main reason for building the dam was a terrible flood in 1927. This flood was one of the worst in Vermont's history, causing huge damage, especially in the Winooski River Valley. Eighty-four people across the state lost their lives, and the downtown area of Barre was almost completely destroyed. The Army Corps of Engineers designed the dam specifically to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
Protecting Barre from Floods
Today, the East Barre Dam continues to protect the city of Barre from flooding almost every year. The area behind the dam often fills with water during heavy rains or snowmelt. However, the dam controls how much water flows into Barre, greatly reducing the risk of flood damage to the city. It acts like a giant sponge, soaking up excess water and releasing it slowly.
Who Manages the Dam?
The East Barre Dam is owned and operated by the state of Vermont. Even though the area behind the dam can hold a lot of water (about 23,550 acre-feet), it is usually empty. This allows it to be ready to store water whenever a flood threatens.
