Lynn Waterways Dam is a concrete dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1915. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 8 ft8 ft tall and 110 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Lynn Waterways Dam
The primary purpose of Lynn Waterways 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 Lynn Water and Sewer Commission (local government). It impounds the Saugus River near Wakefield.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 110 feet across, has a maximum storage capacity of 398 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 10 square miles. Completed in 1915, 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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. The most recent inspection on record was 11/17/2015. That was over 10 years ago.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Wakefield |
| River/Stream | Saugus River |
| Coordinates | 42.51371, -71.03815 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 110 ft |
| Year Completed | 1915 (111 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 398 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 398 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 270 acre-ft |
| Drainage Area | 10 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Lynn Water and Sewer Commission |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 11/17/2015 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01135 |
| Federal ID | MA01135 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |