Southbridge Reservoir No. 4 Dam

Southbridge Reservoir No. 4 Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1906. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Southbridge Reservoir No. 4 Dam

The primary purpose of Southbridge Reservoir No. 4 Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Town Of Southbridge (local government). It impounds the Hatchet Brook near Southbridge.

The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 590 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 70 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 905 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1906, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/03/2021.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyWorcester
Nearest CitySouthbridge
River/StreamHatchet Brook
Coordinates42.05100, -72.07574

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height18 ft
Dam Length590 ft
Year Completed1906 (120 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage905 acre-ft
Max Storage905 acre-ft
Normal Storage660 acre-ft
Surface Area70 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge1,300 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeWater Supply
OwnerTown of Southbridge
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection11/03/2021
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA00692
Federal IDMA00692
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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