Carter Pond Dam
Carter Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1924. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Carter Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Carter Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Carter Pond Company (private). It impounds the Silver Brook near Petersham.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 177 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 42 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 150 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1924, 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 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 10/07/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Petersham |
| River/Stream | Silver Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.43851, -72.18180 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 177 ft |
| Year Completed | 1924 (102 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 150 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 126 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 133 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Carter Pond Company |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 10/07/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00653 |
| Federal ID | MA00653 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |