French Pond Dam
French Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Bristol County, Massachusetts, built in 1760. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About French Pond Dam
The primary purpose of French 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 Easton;wayne E., Jr. & Judi Benson (local government). It impounds the Dorchester (meadow) Brook near Easton.
The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 45 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1760, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 10/09/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Bristol |
| Nearest City | Easton |
| River/Stream | Dorchester (meadow) Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.08718, -71.08091 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 12 ft |
| Dam Length | 125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1760 (266 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 29 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 36 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Easton;Wayne E., Jr. & Judi Benson |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 10/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00173 |
| Federal ID | MA00173 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |