Hop Brook Lake

Infobox lake
lake_name = Hop Brook Lake
image_lake =
caption_lake =
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location = New Haven County, Connecticut
coords = coord|41|30|49|N|73|03|59|W|type:waterbody_region:US-CT|display=inline,title
type = reservoir
inflow = Hop Brook
outflow = Hop Brook
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length =
width =
area = convert|16.4|sqmi|km2|abbr=on
depth =
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islands =
cities =
frozen =

Hop Brook Lake is spread over three communities in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. These communities are Naugatuck, Middlebury, and Waterbury. A dam was created across Hop Brook in Naugatuck and the lake that was created is known as Hop Brook Lake.

Construction

Construction of the dam commenced in December 1965 and was completed in December 1968, costing $6.2 million. The relocation of convert|1.8|mi|km of Route 63 was required. The project includes an earthfill dam with stone slope protection convert|520|ft|m long and convert|97|ft|m high; an earthfill dike measuring convert|400|ft|m long and convert|33|ft|m high; a gated rectangular 425-foot-long concrete conduit three feet wide and five feet high; and a chute spillway edged in rock with a 200-foot­long broad-crested weir. The weir's crest elevation is convert|17|ft|m lower than the top of the dam.

The flood storage area of the project, which is normally empty and is only utilized to store floodwaters, is convert|1.5|mi|km long and spreads out over convert|270|acre|km2. The project and associated lands total convert|553|acre|km2 throughout Naugatuck, Middlebury, and Waterbury. Hop Brook Lake can store up to 2.23 billion gallons of water for flood control purposes. This is equivalent to eight inches (203 mm) of water covering its drainage area of convert|16.4|sqmi|km2.

Recreation

Hop Brook Lake contains a 21 acre recreation pool that has a maximum depth of convert|18|ft|m.

Hop Brook Lake contains largemouth bass and panfish. The state stocks both the lake and its feeder streams with trout. Recreational development of the reservoir includes picnic sites, walking trails, a beach, ball field, drinking water, and sanitary and parking facilities.

There have been multiple incidents of drowning at Hop Brook Lakefact|date=September 2008.

References

* [http://www.recreation.gov/recAreaDetails.do?contractCode=NRSO&recAreaId=213&agencyCode=130 Hop Brook Lake]
* [http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/water/topic.asp?mytopic=hop-fdr Hop Brook Lake]
* [http://www.nae.usace.army.mil/recreati/hbl/hblhome.htm Hop Brook Lake and Dam ]
*gnis|207937