Tuxbury Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1929. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 125 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 Tuxbury Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Tuxbury 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 Amesbury (local government). It impounds the Powwow River near Amesbury.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 125 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 91 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 46 square miles. Completed in 1929, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 10/19/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Amesbury |
| River/Stream | Powwow River |
| Coordinates | 42.86219, -70.98391 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 125 ft |
| Year Completed | 1929 (97 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 318 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 91 acres |
| Drainage Area | 46 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,790 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Controlled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Amesbury |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/19/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00151 |
| Federal ID | MA00151 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |