Talbot Mills Dam is a masonry dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1828. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 16 ft16 ft tall and 316 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 Talbot Mills Dam
The primary purpose of Talbot Mills 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 Crt Development Realty, LLC (private). It impounds the Concord River near Billerica.
The dam stands 16 feet tall and stretches 316 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 8 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 162 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 370 square miles. Completed in 1828, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 04/30/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Billerica |
| River/Stream | Concord River |
| Coordinates | 42.59185, -71.28392 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Masonry |
| NID Height | 16 ft |
| Dam Length | 316 ft |
| Year Completed | 1828 (198 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 162 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 162 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 110 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 8 acres |
| Drainage Area | 370 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,030 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | Crt Development Realty, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/30/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00774 |
| Federal ID | MA00774 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |