Cordingly Dam
Cordingly Dam is a concrete dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1912. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cordingly Dam
The primary purpose of Cordingly Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department Of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Charles River near Newton.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 215 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 217 square miles. Completed in 1912, the structure is over a century old.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/28/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Newton |
| River/Stream | Charles River |
| Coordinates | 42.32578, -71.25439 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 215 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 70 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 217 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,525 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | MA Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/28/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01116 |
| Federal ID | MA01116 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |