Brown Pond Dam
Brown Pond Dam is a masonry dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1900. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Brown Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Brown Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Grist Mill Properties, Llc (private). It impounds the Tributary Of Swift River near Petersham.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 90 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 72 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 8 square miles. Completed in 1900, 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 06/12/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Petersham |
| River/Stream | Tributary Of Swift River |
| Coordinates | 42.49211, -72.16734 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 90 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 72 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 67 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 8 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Grist Mill Properties, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/12/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00652 |
| Federal ID | MA00652 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |