Ramshorn Pond Dam

About Ramshorn Pond Dam

The primary purpose of Ramshorn Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Millbury (local government). It impounds the Ramshorn Brook near Millbury.

The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 585 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 131 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1825, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.

This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/28/2018. That was 7 years ago, which is on the longer end for a high-hazard structure.

Living Downstream

If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.

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