Mare Meadow Reservoir Dam
Mare Meadow Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Mare Meadow Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Mare Meadow 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 City Of Fitchburg (local government). It impounds the Mare Meadow Brook near Hubbardston.
The dam stands 47 feet tall and stretches 830 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 283 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 6,700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1955, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/26/2023.
At 47 feet, this dam is taller than 92% 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 | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Hubbardston |
| River/Stream | Mare Meadow Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.49620, -71.93616 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 47 ft |
| Dam Length | 830 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 6,700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 6,700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 4,849 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 283 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,000 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Fitchburg |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/26/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01020 |
| Federal ID | MA01020 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |