Northborough Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 576 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 Northborough Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Northborough 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 Town of Northborough (local government). It impounds the Rawson Hill Brook near Shrewsbury; Boylston.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 576 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles.
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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 05/23/2017.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Shrewsbury; Boylston |
| River/Stream | Rawson Hill Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.32865, -71.69119 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 576 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 45 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Northborough |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 05/23/2017 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01234 |
| Federal ID | MA01234 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |