Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam
Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1848. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Marlborough (local government). It impounds the Assabet River near Marlborough.
The dam stands 26 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 265 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1848, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/24/2023.
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.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Marlborough |
| River/Stream | Assabet River |
| Coordinates | 42.37387, -71.53116 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 26 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1848 (178 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 265 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Marlborough |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/24/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00449 |
| Federal ID | MA00449 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |