Middle Roberts Meadow Reservoir Dam
Middle Roberts Meadow Reservoir Dam is a stone dam located in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, built in 1894. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Middle Roberts Meadow Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Middle Roberts Meadow Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by City Of Northampton (local government). It impounds the Roberts Meadow Brook near Northampton.
The dam stands 36 feet tall and stretches 403 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 650 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1894, the structure is over a century old.
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 07/28/2022.
At 36 feet, this dam is taller than 83% 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 | Hampshire |
| Nearest City | Northampton |
| River/Stream | Roberts Meadow Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.35164, -72.71004 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Stone |
| NID Height | 36 ft |
| Dam Length | 403 ft |
| Year Completed | 1894 (132 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 650 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 650 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 330 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,910 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | City of Northampton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 07/28/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00761 |
| Federal ID | MA00761 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |