Glen Echo Lake Dam
Glen Echo Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1956. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Glen Echo Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Glen Echo 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 Charlton (local government). It impounds the In: Pratt Brook, Out: Cady Brook near Charlton.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 255 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 125 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,640 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1956, 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 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 05/19/2022.
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 | Charlton |
| River/Stream | In: Pratt Brook, Out: Cady Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.15643, -71.99218 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 255 ft |
| Year Completed | 1956 (70 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,640 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,640 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 820 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 125 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,400 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Charlton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/19/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00101 |
| Federal ID | MA00101 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |