Leesville Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1830. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 220 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 Leesville Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Leesville Pond 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 Auburn (local government). It impounds the Kettle Brook near Worcester.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 220 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 34 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 415 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 31 square miles. Completed in 1830, 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 08/07/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Worcester |
| River/Stream | Kettle Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.23123, -71.83379 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 220 ft |
| Year Completed | 1830 (196 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 415 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 415 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 250 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
| Drainage Area | 31 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 3,860 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Auburn |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/07/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00141 |
| Federal ID | MA00141 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |