Echo Lake Dam
Echo Lake Dam is a stone dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1881. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Echo Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Echo Lake 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 Town Of Milford (local government). It impounds the Charles River near Hopkinton.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 198 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 120 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,946 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1881, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/08/2023.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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 | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Hopkinton |
| River/Stream | Charles River |
| Coordinates | 42.19230, -71.50803 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 198 ft |
| Year Completed | 1881 (145 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,946 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,946 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,856 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 120 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Milford |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/08/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00446 |
| Federal ID | MA00446 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |