Norton Reservoir Dam
Norton Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Norton Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Norton 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 Norton (local government). It impounds the Rumford River near Norton.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 560 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles.
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 11/06/2023.
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 | Bristol |
| Nearest City | Norton |
| River/Stream | Rumford River |
| Coordinates | 41.98554, -71.18888 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,600 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 560 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,330 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Norton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00815 |
| Federal ID | MA00815 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |