Hodges Village Dam - Dike 1
Hodges Village Dam - Dike 1 is a rockfill dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1959. It carries a High hazard potential classification.
About Hodges Village Dam - Dike 1
The primary purpose of Hodges Village Dam - Dike 1 is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by Usace - New England District (federal). It impounds the French River near Webster.
The dam stands 30 feet tall and stretches 720 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 26,000 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 31 square miles. Completed in 1959, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 years old.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 01/27/2020.
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 | Webster |
| River/Stream | French River |
| Coordinates | 42.12044, -71.88061 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Height | 30 ft |
| Dam Length | 720 ft |
| Year Completed | 1959 (67 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 26,000 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 26,000 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 31 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 25,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | USACE - New England District |
| Owner Type | Federal |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Not Available |
| Last Inspection | 01/27/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00967 |
| Federal ID | MA00967S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |