Bare Hill Pond Dam
Bare Hill Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1837. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Bare Hill Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Bare Hill Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town Of Harvard (local government). It impounds the Tributary Of Bowers Brook near Harvard.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 278 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 324 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 4,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles. Completed in 1837, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 09/09/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Harvard |
| River/Stream | Tributary Of Bowers Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.49726, -71.59553 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 278 ft |
| Year Completed | 1837 (189 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 4,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 4,000 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 3,292 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 324 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 543 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Harvard |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 09/09/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00822 |
| Federal ID | MA00822 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |