West Pond Outlet Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1872. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 140 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 West Pond Outlet Dam
The primary purpose of West Pond Outlet Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Last Known Owner - Gerard O. Adair, Sr. (private). It impounds the Unnamed Stream to Atlantic Ocean near Gloucester.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 140 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1872, 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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 06/19/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Gloucester |
| River/Stream | Unnamed Stream to Atlantic Ocean |
| Coordinates | 42.57906, -70.70849 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 140 ft |
| Year Completed | 1872 (154 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 30 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Last Known Owner - Gerard O. Adair, Sr. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/19/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00186 |
| Federal ID | MA00186 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |