Stevens Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1864. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 30 ft30 ft tall and 300 ft long, taller than 68% 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 embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Stevens Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Stevens 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 Sutton (local government). It impounds the Mumford River near Sutton.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 300 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 80 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,450 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1864, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. Its condition is rated poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 12/30/2022.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Sutton |
| River/Stream | Mumford River |
| Coordinates | 42.09419, -71.75208 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 300 ft |
| Year Completed | 1864 (162 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,450 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,450 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 1,130 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 80 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 840 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Sutton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/30/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00957 |
| Federal ID | MA00957 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |