Sugden Reservoir Dam
Sugden Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Sugden Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Sugden Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Spencer (local government). It impounds the Shaw Brook near Spencer.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 440 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 85 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,420 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 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 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 07/26/2022.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 80% of dams nationwide.
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 | Spencer |
| River/Stream | Shaw Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.27283, -71.97249 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 440 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,420 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 980 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 7,042 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Spencer |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/26/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00698 |
| Federal ID | MA00698 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |