Pelham Lake Dam is a stone dam located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, built in 1850. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 14 ft14 ft tall and 270 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Pelham Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Pelham Lake 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 Rowe (local government). It impounds the Pelham Brook, Potter Brook, Turtle Brook near Rowe.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 270 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 71 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 640 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1850, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 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 08/02/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Rowe |
| River/Stream | Pelham Brook, Potter Brook, Turtle Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.69969, -72.89434 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 270 ft |
| Year Completed | 1850 (176 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 640 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 640 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 355 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 71 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 460 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Rowe |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/02/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00044 |
| Federal ID | MA00044 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |