Mahar Regional School Dam

Mahar Regional School Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, built in 1956. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Mahar Regional School Dam

The primary purpose of Mahar Regional School Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District (local government). It impounds the Gulf Brook near Orange.

The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 15 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1956, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 12/03/2021.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyFranklin
Nearest CityOrange
River/StreamGulf Brook
Coordinates42.57629, -72.30449

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height10 ft
Dam Length360 ft
Year Completed1956 (70 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage15 acre-ft
Max Storage15 acre-ft
Normal Storage8 acre-ft
Surface Area2 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge830 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerRalph C. Mahar Regional School District
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection12/03/2021
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA01759
Federal IDMA01759
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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