Rochdale Pond Dam
Rochdale Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Rochdale Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Rochdale Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Dissolved - Stafford Industries, Inc. (private). It impounds the French River near Leicester.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 41 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 528 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 19 square miles.
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 06/09/2021.
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 | Leicester |
| River/Stream | French River |
| Coordinates | 42.19642, -71.90389 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 528 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 528 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 344 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 41 acres |
| Drainage Area | 19 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,200 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Dissolved - Stafford Industries, Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 06/09/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA00981 |
| Federal ID | MA00981 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |