Quabbin Spillway is a masonry dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1938. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 10 ft10 ft tall and 405 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Quabbin Spillway
The primary purpose of Quabbin Spillway is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Swift River near Ware.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 405 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 25,216 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,810,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 187 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected 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 10/31/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | Ware |
| River/Stream | Swift River |
| Coordinates | 42.28728, -72.33796 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 405 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,810,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,810,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,265,200 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 25,216 acres |
| Drainage Area | 187 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/31/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00589 |
| Federal ID | MA00588S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |