North Harwich Reservoir Dam
North Harwich Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, built in 1880. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About North Harwich Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of North Harwich Reservoir 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 Harwich (local government). It impounds the Herring River near Harwich.
The dam stands 8 feet tall, creates a reservoir covering 78 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 260 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 12 square miles. Completed in 1880, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 05/20/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Barnstable |
| Nearest City | Harwich |
| River/Stream | Herring River |
| Coordinates | 41.68208, -70.12192 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Year Completed | 1880 (146 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 260 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 213 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Drainage Area | 12 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 35 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Harwich |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/20/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA02423 |
| Federal ID | MA02423 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |