Old Mill Pond Dam
Old Mill Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1800. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Old Mill Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Old Mill Pond Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Town Of Shrewsbury (local government). It impounds the West Brook near Shrewsbury.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 12 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 114 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1800, 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 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 12/09/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Shrewsbury |
| River/Stream | West Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.28221, -71.74208 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1800 (226 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 114 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 114 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 84 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 12 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 448 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Town of Shrewsbury |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 12/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00680 |
| Federal ID | MA00680 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |