Harvard Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 8 ft8 ft tall and 160 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 Harvard Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Harvard Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by President & Fellows of Harvard College, Harvard Forest (private). It impounds the East Branch Fever Brook near Petersham.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 160 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 86 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 410 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles.
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 11/14/2023.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Petersham |
| River/Stream | East Branch Fever Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.49930, -72.21381 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 160 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 410 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 410 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 280 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 86 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 135 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | President & Fellows of Harvard College, Harvard Forest |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/14/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00654 |
| Federal ID | MA00654 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |