Upper Sawmill Pond Dam

Upper Sawmill Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1850. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Upper Sawmill Pond Dam

Upper Sawmill Pond Dam is a dam in Worcester, Massachusetts. The dam is owned by North Central Realty Corp. (private). It impounds the Flagg Brook near Fitchburg.

The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 116 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 67 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 539 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 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 significant hazard potential classification, meaning that a failure could cause significant economic damage — flooding roads, bridges, or property downstream — but is not expected to result in loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 04/13/2022.

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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyWorcester
Nearest CityFitchburg
River/StreamFlagg Brook
Coordinates42.54922, -71.84294

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height16 ft
Dam Length116 ft
Year Completed1850 (176 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage539 acre-ft
Max Storage539 acre-ft
Normal Storage404 acre-ft
Surface Area67 acres
Drainage Area11 sq mi
Max Discharge1,560 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

OwnerNorth Central Realty Corp.
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection04/13/2022
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDMA00873
Federal IDMA00873
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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