Aldrich Lake Dam is a masonry dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1934. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 34 ft34 ft tall and 132 ft long, taller than 78% 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 concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Aldrich Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Aldrich Lake Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Bachelor Brook near Granby.
The dam stands 34 feet tall and stretches 132 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 35 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 490 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 23 square miles. Completed in 1934, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 04/14/2020.
At 34 feet, this dam is taller than 78% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | Granby |
| River/Stream | Bachelor Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.28262, -72.53741 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 34 ft |
| Dam Length | 132 ft |
| Year Completed | 1934 (92 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 490 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 377 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 35 acres |
| Drainage Area | 23 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,290 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/14/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00491 |
| Federal ID | MA00491 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |