Westfield Reservoir Dam
Westfield Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Hampden County, Massachusetts, built in 1874. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Westfield Reservoir Dam
Westfield Reservoir Dam is a dam in Hampden, Massachusetts. The dam is owned by City Of Westfield (local government). It impounds the Moose Meadow Brook near Montgomery.
The dam stands 41 feet tall and stretches 370 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 38 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 700 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1874, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 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 11/03/2022.
At 41 feet, this dam is taller than 88% of dams nationwide.
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 | Hampden |
| Nearest City | Montgomery |
| River/Stream | Moose Meadow Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.19048, -72.81101 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 41 ft |
| Dam Length | 370 ft |
| Year Completed | 1874 (152 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 700 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | City of Westfield |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00734 |
| Federal ID | MA00734 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |