Watertown Dam
Watertown Dam is a gravity dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Watertown Dam
The primary purpose of Watertown Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department Of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Charles River near Watertown.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 410 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 273 square miles.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/28/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Watertown |
| River/Stream | Charles River |
| Coordinates | 42.36538, -71.18924 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 410 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 20 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 273 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 4,370 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MA Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00456 |
| Federal ID | MA00456 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |