Upper Van Horn Reservoir Dam

Upper Van Horn Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1848. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.

About Upper Van Horn Reservoir Dam

The primary purpose of Upper Van Horn Reservoir 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 Springfield (local government). It impounds the Upper Van Horn Reservoir near Springfield.

The dam stands 31 feet tall and stretches 905 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 9 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 169 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1848, 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 11/08/2022.

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Significant HazardPoor ConditionEmergency Action Plan: No

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyHampden
Nearest CitySpringfield
River/StreamUpper Van Horn Reservoir
Coordinates42.12618, -72.59460

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeEarth
NID Height31 ft
Dam Length905 ft
Year Completed1848 (178 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage169 acre-ft
Max Storage169 acre-ft
Normal Storage67 acre-ft
Surface Area9 acres
Drainage Area0 sq mi
Max Discharge730 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeRecreation
OwnerCity of Springfield
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentPoor
Last Inspection11/08/2022
Emergency Action PlanNo

Identifiers

NID IDMA00574
Federal IDMA00574
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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