Shepard Pond Dam

Shepard Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, built in 1880. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Shepard Pond Dam

The primary purpose of Shepard Pond 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 Canton (local government). It impounds the Massapoag Brook near Canton.

The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 105 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 4 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 47 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1880, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/23/2020.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyNorfolk
Nearest CityCanton
River/StreamMassapoag Brook
Coordinates42.14484, -71.14968

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height16 ft
Dam Length105 ft
Year Completed1880 (146 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage47 acre-ft
Max Storage47 acre-ft
Normal Storage19 acre-ft
Surface Area4 acres
Drainage Area10 sq mi
Max Discharge1,040 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerTown of Canton
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection06/23/2020
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA01162
Federal IDMA01162
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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