Griswold Pond Dam

Griswold Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1918. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.

About Griswold Pond Dam

The primary purpose of Griswold 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 Saugus (local government). It impounds the Bennetts Pond Brook/crystal Brook near Saugus.

The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 535 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 121 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1918, the structure is over a century old.

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 01/31/2023.

Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.

Significant HazardFair ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyEssex
Nearest CitySaugus
River/StreamBennetts Pond Brook/crystal Brook
Coordinates42.47686, -71.05075

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height12 ft
Dam Length535 ft
Year Completed1918 (108 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage121 acre-ft
Max Storage121 acre-ft
Normal Storage93 acre-ft
Surface Area15 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge68 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerTown of Saugus
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentFair
Last Inspection01/31/2023
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA00292
Federal IDMA00292
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

Nearby Dams