Tully Dam
Tully Dam is a rockfill dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1949. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Tully Dam
The primary purpose of Tully 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 Usace - New England District (federal). It impounds the East Branch Tully River near Athol.
The dam stands 59 feet tall and stretches 1,570 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 300 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 35,800 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 50 square miles. Completed in 1949, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/03/2022.
At 59 feet, this dam is taller than 95% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Athol |
| River/Stream | East Branch Tully River |
| Coordinates | 42.64302, -72.22368 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Height | 59 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,570 ft |
| Year Completed | 1949 (77 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 35,800 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 35,800 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 300 acres |
| Drainage Area | 50 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 32,700 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - New England District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 10/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00970 |
| Federal ID | MA00970 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |