Lake Dunmore is a freshwater lake in Addison County, Vermont. The lake spans the towns of Salisbury and Leicester and has a surface area of 985 acres (3.98 km2).[1] Lake Dunmore is over 3 miles long (oriented north-south) and up to 1 mile wide. The primary source of water is Sucker Brook, which rises in the adjacent Moosalamoo National Recreation Area of the Green Mountain National Forest. The lake is drained by Leicester River, a tributary to Otter Creek, which in turn empties into Lake Champlain.

Lake Dunmore
Location of Lake Dunmore in Vermont, USA.
Location of Lake Dunmore in Vermont, USA.
Lake Dunmore
Location of Lake Dunmore in Vermont, USA.
Location of Lake Dunmore in Vermont, USA.
Lake Dunmore
LocationAddison County, Vermont
Coordinates43°54′N 73°04′W / 43.9°N 73.07°W / 43.9; -73.07
TypeNatural freshwater lake
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length2.06 mi (3.32 km)
Max. width0.61 mi (0.98 km)
Surface area985 acres (3.99 km2)
Max. depth105 feet (32 m)
Surface elevation559 ft (170 m)
Islands1 islet
Settlementstowns of Salisbury, Vermont and Leicester, Vermont

Branbury State Park occupies 69 acres (28 hectares) of the eastern shore and offers a sandy beach, canoe rentals, and campsites.[2] Vermont Route 53 follows the eastern and northern shores of the lake. Most of the shoreline is privately owned.

Keewaydin (camp) operates two camps on Lake Dunmore. Keewaydin Dunmore for boys was established in 1910. Songadeewin, a camp for girls, was established in 1999.[3]

Point CounterPoint, a chamber music camp established in 1963, operates on the western shore of Lake Dunmore.[4]

The Lake Dunmore/Fern Lake Association, Incorporated "protects the Lakes’ value as a public recreational facility and respects the interests of property owners and the public".[5]

Although a natural lake formed by glaciation, the water level is controlled by a small dam. In addition, Sucker Brook is part of a hydroelectricity project connecting Silver Lake and Sugar Hill Reservoir via Sucker Brook and operated by Green Mountain Power.[6]

There have been conservation efforts to protect the loons who nest on Lake Dunmore.[7][8] In 2022, Mike Korkuc was awarded the Green Mountain Power-Zetterstrom Environmental Award for his Loon recovery conservation work at Lake Dunmore.[8][9]

Mountain Spring Hotel, Lake Dunmore, early 20th century

References

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  1. ^ "Lake Dunmore Survey" (PDF). Vermont Dept. of Water Resources. 1985. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  2. ^ "Vermont State Parks - Branbury State Park". Retrieved 29 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Keewaydin.org".
  4. ^ "Point CounterPoint | Point CounterPoint". Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  5. ^ "By-Laws of the Lake Dunmore/Fern Lake Association, Incorporated" (PDF). 2017-07-07.
  6. ^ "Hydroelectric Projects: Silver Lake Project". Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  7. ^ Goldstein, Steve. "The 'Loon Ranger,' Mike Korkuc, Makes Lake Dunmore Safe for the Diva of Divers". Seven Days. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  8. ^ a b Carroll, Joe (2022-06-16). "Super Senior: Mike Korkuc". www.wcax.com. Retrieved 2023-06-02.
  9. ^ Niemasz-Cavanagh, Leah (2022-06-14). "Mike Korkuc Wins 2022 GMP-Zetterstrom Environmental Award". Green Mountain Power. Retrieved 2023-06-02.