Shepard Street Dam

Shepard Street Dam is an earth dam located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, built in 1956. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Shepard Street Dam

The primary purpose of Shepard Street 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 11 feet tall and stretches 450 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 14 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 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 10/10/2023.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyNorfolk
Nearest CityCanton
River/StreamMassapoag Brook
Coordinates42.14657, -71.14755

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height11 ft
Dam Length450 ft
Year Completed1956 (70 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage14 acre-ft
Max Storage14 acre-ft
Normal Storage6 acre-ft
Surface Area2 acres
Drainage Area11 sq mi
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerTown of Canton
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection10/10/2023
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA03104
Federal IDMA03104
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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