Damon Pond Dam

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.

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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Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyHampshire
Nearest CityChesterfield
River/StreamDead Branch
Coordinates42.41164, -72.83397

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height17 ft
Dam Length250 ft
Year Completed1760 (266 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage900 acre-ft
Max Storage900 acre-ft
Normal Storage255 acre-ft
Surface Area85 acres
Drainage Area2 sq mi
Max Discharge238 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerLake Damon Corporation
Owner TypePrivate
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection08/28/2020
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA00060
Federal IDMA00060
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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