Damon Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1760. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 17 ft17 ft tall and 250 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Damon Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Damon Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Lake Damon Corporation (private). It impounds the Dead Branch near Chesterfield.
The dam stands 17 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 85 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 900 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1760, 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 08/28/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | Chesterfield |
| River/Stream | Dead Branch |
| Coordinates | 42.41164, -72.83397 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 17 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1760 (266 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 900 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 255 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 238 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Lake Damon Corporation |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/28/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00060 |
| Federal ID | MA00060 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |