Lake Watatic Dam
Lake Watatic Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1955. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Lake Watatic Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Watatic 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 Ashburnham (local government). It impounds the Unnamed Tributary Of Millers River near Ashburnham.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 150 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 6 square miles. Completed in 1955, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 04/16/2024.
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 | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Ashburnham |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Tributary Of Millers River |
| Coordinates | 42.68039, -71.93803 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1955 (71 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 820 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Drainage Area | 6 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,485 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Ashburnham |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/16/2024 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00004 |
| Federal ID | MA00004 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |