Lower Bemis Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1862. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 33 ft33 ft tall and 290 ft long, taller than 76% 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 Lower Bemis Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Lower Bemis Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by City of Chicopee (local government). It impounds the Abbey Brook near Chicopee.
The dam stands 33 feet tall and stretches 290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 43 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1862, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 05/01/2018.
At 33 feet, this dam is taller than 76% of dams nationwide.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampden |
| Nearest City | Chicopee |
| River/Stream | Abbey Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.14695, -72.59054 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 33 ft |
| Dam Length | 290 ft |
| Year Completed | 1862 (164 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 43 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 43 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 9 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | City of Chicopee |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/01/2018 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00531 |
| Federal ID | MA00531 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |