Buck Hill Conservation Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1969. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 325 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Buck Hill Conservation Dam
The primary purpose of Buck Hill Conservation Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Worcester County 4-h Center, Inc. (private). It impounds the Seven Mile River near Spencer.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 325 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 133 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1969, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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 01/23/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Spencer |
| River/Stream | Seven Mile River |
| Coordinates | 42.28932, -71.98730 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 325 ft |
| Year Completed | 1969 (57 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 133 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 133 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 49 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Worcester County 4-h Center, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 01/23/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00901 |
| Federal ID | MA00901 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |