Cowee Pond Dam
Cowee Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1900. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Cowee Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Cowee Pond Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Gardner (local government). It impounds the Perley Brook near Gardner.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 17 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 265 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century 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 08/08/2023.
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 | Gardner |
| River/Stream | Perley Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.61088, -71.98518 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 265 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 265 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 220 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 17 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Gardner |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00118 |
| Federal ID | MA00118 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |