Cohasse Brook Reservoir Dam
Cohasse Brook Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1967. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Cohasse Brook Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Cohasse Brook Reservoir 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 Cohasse Brook near Southbridge.
The dam stands 60 feet tall and stretches 760 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 59 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,300 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 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 10/27/2022.
At 60 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Southbridge |
| River/Stream | Cohasse Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.04659, -72.05279 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 60 ft |
| Dam Length | 760 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,300 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 830 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 59 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,300 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Southbridge |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/27/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00694 |
| Federal ID | MA00694 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |