Putnamville Reservoir Dam
Putnamville Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1954. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Putnamville Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Putnamville 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 Salem-beverly Water Supply Board (local government). It impounds the Tributary Of Ipswich River near Danvers.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 1,400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 320 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 8,370 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1954, 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 08/31/2022.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 84% 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 | Essex |
| Nearest City | Danvers |
| River/Stream | Tributary Of Ipswich River |
| Coordinates | 42.60283, -70.93969 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1954 (72 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 8,370 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 8,370 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 7,100 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 320 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Salem-Beverly Water Supply Board |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00745 |
| Federal ID | MA00745 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |