Old Grist Mill Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1953. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 19 ft19 ft tall and 60 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 Old Grist Mill Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Old Grist Mill Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town of Upton (local government). It impounds the Center Brook near Upton.
The dam stands 19 feet tall and stretches 60 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 101 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1953, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years 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 11/22/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Upton |
| River/Stream | Center Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.17422, -71.60214 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 19 ft |
| Dam Length | 60 ft |
| Year Completed | 1953 (73 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 101 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 101 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 2,440 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Upton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/22/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00668 |
| Federal ID | MA00668 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |