Chimney Pond Dam is a masonry dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 18 ft18 ft tall and 250 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Chimney Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Chimney Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Kesmo Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. (private). It impounds the Wellington Brook near Oxford.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 250 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 7 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 59 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 08/31/2023.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Oxford |
| River/Stream | Wellington Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.15251, -71.85091 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 250 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 59 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 31 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 7 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 436 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Kesmo Sand & Gravel Co., Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 08/31/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00675 |
| Federal ID | MA00675 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |