Straits Pond Dam

Straits Pond Dam is a concrete dam located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, built in 1908. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.

About Straits Pond Dam

The primary purpose of Straits Pond Dam 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 Town Of Cohasset;town Of Hingham;town Of Hull (local government). It impounds the Tributary Of Weir River near Hingham; Hull; Cohasset.

The dam stands 12 feet tall and stretches 80 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 97 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 950 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1908, the structure is over a century old.

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 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 07/19/2021.

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Significant HazardSatisfactory ConditionEmergency Action Plan: Yes

Location

StateMassachusetts
CountyNorfolk
Nearest CityHingham; Hull; Cohasset
River/StreamTributary Of Weir River
Coordinates42.26048, -70.84451

Physical Characteristics

Dam TypeConcrete
NID Height12 ft
Dam Length80 ft
Year Completed1908 (118 years old)

Storage & Hydraulics

NID Storage950 acre-ft
Max Storage950 acre-ft
Normal Storage302 acre-ft
Surface Area97 acres
Drainage Area1 sq mi
Max Discharge723 cfs
Spillway TypeUncontrolled

Ownership & Safety

PurposeFlood Risk Reduction
OwnerTown of Cohasset;Town of Hingham;Town of Hull
Owner TypeLocal Government
Hazard ClassificationSignificant
Condition AssessmentSatisfactory
Last Inspection07/19/2021
Emergency Action PlanYes

Identifiers

NID IDMA01101
Federal IDMA01101
More InfoState Dam Safety Program

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