Mill Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, built in 1930. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 9 ft9 ft tall and 375 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 Mill Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Mill Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department of Transportation (state). It impounds the Backus Brook, Green River near Falmouth.
The dam stands 9 feet tall and stretches 375 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 15 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 88 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1930, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 03/24/2020.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Barnstable |
| Nearest City | Falmouth |
| River/Stream | Backus Brook, Green River |
| Coordinates | 41.57881, -70.56368 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 9 ft |
| Dam Length | 375 ft |
| Year Completed | 1930 (96 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 88 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 88 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 15 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 80 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ma Department of Transportation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 03/24/2020 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01036 |
| Federal ID | MA01036 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |