Bleachery Dam is a dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1900. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 8 ft8 ft tall and 150 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 Bleachery Dam
The primary purpose of Bleachery 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 Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Charles River near Waltham.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 150 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 14 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 115 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 262 square miles. Completed in 1900, the structure is over a century old.
This dam has a low hazard potential classification, meaning that failure would cause minimal damage, limited primarily to the dam owner's property, with no expected loss of life. Its condition is rated satisfactory, indicating no existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. The most recent inspection on record was 03/29/2017.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Waltham |
| River/Stream | Charles River |
| Coordinates | 42.36909, -71.22297 |
Physical Characteristics
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 150 ft |
| Year Completed | 1900 (126 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 115 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 60 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 14 acres |
| Drainage Area | 262 sq mi |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 03/29/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01110 |
| Federal ID | MA01110 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |