Wards Pond Dam
Wards Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1892. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Wards Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Wards Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Camp Timber Trails, Llc F/k/a Friends Of Dance New England Llc (private). It impounds the Tributary To West Branch Of Farmington River near Tolland.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 460 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 119 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1892, 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 04/06/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampden |
| Nearest City | Tolland |
| River/Stream | Tributary To West Branch Of Farmington River |
| Coordinates | 42.11662, -73.05161 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 460 ft |
| Year Completed | 1892 (134 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 119 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 119 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 71 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Camp Timber Trails, LLC f/k/a Friends of Dance New England LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/06/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00320 |
| Federal ID | MA00320 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |