Fitchburg Reservoir North Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1916. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 27 ft27 ft tall and 1,040 ft long, taller than 59% 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 Fitchburg Reservoir North Dam
The primary purpose of Fitchburg Reservoir North 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 Fitchburg (local government). It impounds the Willard Brook near Ashby.
The dam stands 27 feet tall and stretches 1,040 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 153 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 2,941 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1916, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 12/19/2023.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Ashby |
| River/Stream | Willard Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.65292, -71.84138 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 27 ft |
| Dam Length | 1,040 ft |
| Year Completed | 1916 (110 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 2,941 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 2,941 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 2,006 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 153 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,565 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Fitchburg |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/19/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00335 |
| Federal ID | MA00335 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |