Bondsville Upper Dam
Bondsville Upper Dam is a stone dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1880. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Bondsville Upper Dam
The primary purpose of Bondsville Upper Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Belchertown Land Trust, Inc. (private). It impounds the Swift River near Palmer.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 122 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 200 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,200 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 195 square miles. Completed in 1880, the structure is over a century old.
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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 11/14/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | Palmer |
| River/Stream | Swift River |
| Coordinates | 42.21910, -72.34082 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 122 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,200 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 460 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 200 acres |
| Drainage Area | 195 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 8,580 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Belchertown Land Trust, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/14/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00560 |
| Federal ID | MA00560 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |