Deerfield No. 4 - Forebay is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, built in 1912. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 630 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 Deerfield No. 4 - Forebay
The primary purpose of Deerfield No. 4 - Forebay is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. The dam is owned by Great River Hydro, LLC (private). It impounds the Deerfield River near Shelburne Falls.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 630 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 75 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,067 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 404 square miles. Completed in 1912, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/15/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Shelburne Falls |
| River/Stream | Deerfield River |
| Coordinates | 42.61987, -72.73838 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 630 ft |
| Year Completed | 1912 (114 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,067 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,067 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,067 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Drainage Area | 404 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Great River Hydro, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/15/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00460 |
| Federal ID | MA00460S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |