Brigham Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1872. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 200 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 Brigham Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Brigham Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the West Brook near Hubbardston.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 50 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 550 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 11 square miles. Completed in 1872, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/23/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Hubbardston |
| River/Stream | West Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.46817, -71.99989 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1872 (154 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 550 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 230 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 50 acres |
| Drainage Area | 11 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00661 |
| Federal ID | MA00661 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |