Silk Mill Dam
Silk Mill Dam is a concrete dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1912. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Silk Mill Dam
The primary purpose of Silk Mill Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Ma Department Of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Charles River near Newton.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 211 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/13/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Newton |
| River/Stream | Charles River |
| Coordinates | 42.31392, -71.22633 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 211 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | MA Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00342 |
| Federal ID | MA00342 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |