Snake Brook Dam
Snake Brook Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1879. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Snake Brook Dam
The primary purpose of Snake Brook 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 Wayland (local government). It impounds the Snake Brook near Wayland.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1879, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/18/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Wayland |
| River/Stream | Snake Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.33425, -71.34166 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1879 (147 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 50 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Wayland |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 08/18/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01119 |
| Federal ID | MA01119 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |