Epstein Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1967. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 280 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 Epstein Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Epstein Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town of Amherst (local government). It impounds the Tributary of Plum Brook near Amherst.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 63 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1967, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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. The most recent inspection on record was 12/14/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | Amherst |
| River/Stream | Tributary of Plum Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.31832, -72.52506 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1967 (59 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 42 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 550 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Amherst |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 12/14/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00483 |
| Federal ID | MA00483 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |