Shelburne Falls Fire District Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, built in 1921. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 28 ft28 ft tall and 490 ft long, taller than 62% 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 Shelburne Falls Fire District Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Shelburne Falls Fire District Reservoir 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 Shelburne (local government). It impounds the Fox Brook to North River near Colrain.
The dam stands 28 feet tall and stretches 490 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 52 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1921, 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 09/29/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Colrain |
| River/Stream | Fox Brook to North River |
| Coordinates | 42.63952, -72.70326 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 28 ft |
| Dam Length | 490 ft |
| Year Completed | 1921 (105 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 52 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 460 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Shelburne |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/29/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00462 |
| Federal ID | MA00462 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |