Fernwood Lake South Dike
Fernwood Lake South Dike is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1877. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Fernwood Lake South Dike
The primary purpose of Fernwood Lake South Dike 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 Annisquam River near Gloucester.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 360 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 28 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 185 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 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 11/17/2023.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Gloucester |
| River/Stream | Annisquam River |
| Coordinates | 42.60882, -70.70135 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 360 ft |
| Year Completed | 1877 (149 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 185 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 125 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 | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA02269 |
| Federal ID | MA00184S002 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |