Sutton Falls Dam
Sutton Falls Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1900. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
About Sutton Falls Dam
The primary purpose of Sutton Falls Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Sfca, Llc (private). It impounds the Dark Brook near Sutton.
The dam stands 18 feet tall and stretches 280 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 136 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century 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 06/06/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Sutton |
| River/Stream | Dark Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.10951, -71.78190 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 18 ft |
| Dam Length | 280 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 136 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 136 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 456 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | SFCA, LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 06/06/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00956 |
| Federal ID | MA00956 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |