Fernwood Lake West Dam
Fernwood Lake West Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1877. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Fernwood Lake West Dam
The primary purpose of Fernwood Lake West Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City Of Gloucester (local government). It impounds the Little River Basin near Gloucester.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 259 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1877, the structure is over a century 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 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 01/05/2024.
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 | Essex |
| Nearest City | Gloucester |
| River/Stream | Little River Basin |
| Coordinates | 42.60998, -70.70182 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1877 (149 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 259 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 259 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 182 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 28 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Gloucester |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 01/05/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01337 |
| Federal ID | MA00184S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |