Wachusett Lake Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1905. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 4 ft4 ft tall and 400 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Wachusett Lake Dam
The primary purpose of Wachusett Lake Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City of Fitchburg (local government). It impounds the Tributary of Flag Brook near Westminster.
The dam stands 4 feet tall and stretches 400 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 130 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 579 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1905, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 07/06/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Westminster |
| River/Stream | Tributary of Flag Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.51412, -71.88340 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 4 ft |
| Dam Length | 400 ft |
| Year Completed | 1905 (121 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 579 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 579 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 187 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 275 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Fitchburg |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/06/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00642 |
| Federal ID | MA00642 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |