The Curtis Pond Dam is located by Worcester Road in Calais, Vermont. Before the dam was constructed, there were originally two separate ponds located along an un-named tributary to Pekin Brook. Curtis Pond Dam was constricted circa 1900 which raised water levels approximately 10-ft and combined the two smaller ponds together. Curtis Pond Dam is composed of laid up masonry stone with a sand and gravel embankment.” ¹

On July 19, 2019, the Agency of Natural Resources had the dam classified as a SIGNIFICANT hazard and the overall condition of the dam was considered POOR. View Dam Safety Inspections here.

From 2003-2006 a major effort was made to get the dam fixed but no action was eventually taken and the effort was dropped.  Read reports, media articles and documents related to these efforts.

Between 2006 and 2011, minimal effort was made to repair the dam, but with tropical storm, “Irene”, the Calais Select Board contracted with the engineering firm, Dubois & King, to produce a final design, estimate and prepare an application for permits for dam repair.  Check out lots of documents related to these efforts.

Since fall of 2020, a group called the “Curtis Pond Dam Exploratory Group” have been meeting to try again to look into getting the Curtis Pond Dam fixed.  Research about ownership and insurance, looking at past reports/presentations/efforts and talking with people in ANR and members of the Calais Select Board has been done.  We would like to welcome you to review our research results and invite you to join in our effort to improve the integrity of the dam.  Check out the Curtis Pond Dam Exploratory Group web page for contact information and access to our current research, timeline funding scenarios, etc.

On May 24, 2021, the CPA presented to the Calais Select Board our findings and requested to work together to get the dam repaired.  Since May, the CPA and Calais Select Board have been working together to determine a path to fixing the dam and resolving the largest issue, the ownership of the dam.  In November 2021 a Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the CPA and Calais Select Board charting that path. 

¹Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation Hazard Class Assessments for: Carlton Reservoir Dam, Curtis Pond Dam, Kenny Pond Dam, and Southern Vermont Orchard Dam July 12, 2019