Lake Ripple Dam
Lake Ripple Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1982. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Lake Ripple Dam
The primary purpose of Lake Ripple 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 Grafton (local government). It impounds the Palmer River/quinsigamond River near Grafton.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 51 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 610 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 35 square miles. Completed in 1982, the structure is 44 years 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/01/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Grafton |
| River/Stream | Palmer River/quinsigamond River |
| Coordinates | 42.20955, -71.69770 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
| Year Completed | 1982 (44 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 610 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 610 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 300 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 51 acres |
| Drainage Area | 35 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Grafton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/01/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00579 |
| Federal ID | MA00579 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |