Leaping Well Reservoir Dam
Leaping Well Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1890. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Leaping Well Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Leaping Well Reservoir 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 South Hadley (local government). It impounds the Leaping Well Brook near S. Hadley.
The dam stands 29 feet tall and stretches 480 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 140 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1890, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 07/13/2022.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | S. Hadley |
| River/Stream | Leaping Well Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.23385, -72.56412 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 29 ft |
| Dam Length | 480 ft |
| Year Completed | 1890 (136 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 140 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 92 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of South Hadley |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 07/13/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00586 |
| Federal ID | MA00586 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |