Conway Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, built in 1975. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 65 ft65 ft tall and 435 ft long, taller than 96% of U.S. dams with a recorded height. Height is drawn to scale against a ten-story building, about 100 ft; the profile is a generic embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Conway Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Conway Reservoir Dam is water supply. The dam stores water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural use, helping ensure a reliable supply for the surrounding area. The dam is owned by South Deerfield Water Supply District (local government). It impounds the Roaring Brook near Conway.
The dam stands 65 feet tall and stretches 435 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 20 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 553 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 4 square miles. Completed in 1975, 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. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 11/03/2022.
At 65 feet, this dam is taller than 96% of all dams in the United States.
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 | Franklin |
| Nearest City | Conway |
| River/Stream | Roaring Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.47022, -72.66490 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 65 ft |
| Dam Length | 435 ft |
| Year Completed | 1975 (51 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 553 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 553 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 450 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 20 acres |
| Drainage Area | 4 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 5,975 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | South Deerfield Water Supply District |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/03/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01056 |
| Federal ID | MA01056 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |