Diamond International Corp Upper Dam is a stone dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1876. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 23 ft23 ft tall and 420 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Diamond International Corp Upper Dam
The primary purpose of Diamond International Corp Upper Dam 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 Energy Thorndike, Inc. (private). It impounds the Ware River near Palmer.
The dam stands 23 feet tall and stretches 420 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 37 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 600 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 214 square miles. Completed in 1876, 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 satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 09/12/2016. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampden |
| Nearest City | Palmer |
| River/Stream | Ware River |
| Coordinates | 42.18817, -72.32459 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 23 ft |
| Dam Length | 420 ft |
| Year Completed | 1876 (150 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 600 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 37 acres |
| Drainage Area | 214 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner | Energy Thorndike, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/12/2016 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00562 |
| Federal ID | MA00562 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |