The Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation's Dam Safety Department (DSD) has signed off on two of three proposed designs for replacing the Shadow Lake Dam in Glover. The consulting firm Weston & Sampson submitted three design options in May 2026, each tested against 100, 500, and 1,000-year flood events, for a total of nine scenarios. DSD engineers selected Alternatives 2A, 3, and 3B, but deemed only 2A and 3 viable after determining that Alternative 3B would increase flood danger downstream at multiple locations.
The Shadow Lake Dam was damaged during flooding in 2023 and 2024. A sinkhole discovered in 2023 worsened the following year, leading the state to downgrade the dam's rating to unsatisfactory and unacceptable. DSD's Ben Green ordered the lake level lowered by two feet until repairs are complete, and the department continues to monitor the dam for potential breaches.
The town of Glover's selectboard plans to seek public input on the remaining options. DSD has requested additional information from Weston & Sampson, which could result in minor changes to the analysis. Full details on the viable designs and next steps are expected in the June 18 edition of the Newport Daily Express.
Originally reported by Newport Daily Express.
Photo: Annette Bauer via Pexels. Photo is illustrative and not from the scene.
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