Gardners Falls is a concrete dam located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, built in 1904. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 37 ft37 ft tall and 337 ft long, taller than 83% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. 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 Gardners Falls
The primary purpose of Gardners Falls is hydroelectric. The dam generates hydroelectric power by channeling water through turbines, converting the energy of flowing water into electricity. It impounds the Deerfield River near Buckland.
The dam stands 37 feet tall and stretches 337 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 21 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 50 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 501 square miles. Completed in 1904, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 05/17/2019.
At 37 feet, this dam is taller than 83% of dams nationwide.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Buckland |
| River/Stream | Deerfield River |
| Coordinates | 42.59152, -72.73018 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Height | 37 ft |
| Dam Length | 337 ft |
| Year Completed | 1904 (122 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 50 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Drainage Area | 501 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 65,250 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Hydroelectric |
| Owner Type | Not Listed |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 05/17/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00853 |
| Federal ID | MA00853 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |