Willett Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, built in 1913. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 25 ft25 ft tall and 900 ft long, taller than 50% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Willett Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Willett Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Neponset River Land Holding Association, Inc. (private). It impounds the Bubbling Brook near Norwood.
The dam stands 25 feet tall and stretches 900 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 240 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,500 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1913, 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/30/2021.
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 | Norfolk |
| Nearest City | Norwood |
| River/Stream | Bubbling Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.18067, -71.23297 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 25 ft |
| Dam Length | 900 ft |
| Year Completed | 1913 (113 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,500 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,736 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 240 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 650 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Neponset River Land Holding Association, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00169 |
| Federal ID | MA00169 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |