Fisherville Pond Dam
Fisherville Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Fisherville Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Fisherville Pond 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 Fisherville Redevelopment Company, Llc (private). It impounds the Blackstone River near Grafton.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 910 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,360 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 135 square miles. Completed in 1882, the structure is over a century old.
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 02/23/2022.
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 | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Grafton |
| River/Stream | Blackstone River |
| Coordinates | 42.17941, -71.68845 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 910 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,360 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,360 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 135 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 13,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Fisherville Redevelopment Company, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 02/23/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00577 |
| Federal ID | MA00577 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |