Lake Cochituate Dam And Gate House
Lake Cochituate Dam And Gate House is a stone dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1920. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Cochituate Dam And Gate House
The primary purpose of Lake Cochituate Dam And Gate House is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department Of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Cochituate Brook near Framingham.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 640 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,989 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 square miles. Completed in 1920, 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 03/18/2022.
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 | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Framingham |
| River/Stream | Cochituate Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.31509, -71.38368 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,989 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,989 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,536 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 640 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,055 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MA Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/18/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00740 |
| Federal ID | MA00740 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |