West Medway Dam
West Medway Dam is a gravity dam located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, built in 1850. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About West Medway Dam
The primary purpose of West Medway Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Robert Scott Power (private). It impounds the Charles River near Medway; Franklin.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 56 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 20 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 03/05/1998. That was over 28 years ago.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Norfolk |
| Nearest City | Medway; Franklin |
| River/Stream | Charles River |
| Coordinates | 42.13915, -71.42415 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Gravity |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 80 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 56 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 51 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 20 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Robert Scott Power |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/05/1998 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00791 |
| Federal ID | MA00791 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |