Otter River Dam
Otter River Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1946. It carries a Low hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Otter River Dam
Otter River Dam is a dam in Worcester, Massachusetts. The dam is owned by Seaman Paper Company Of Ma Inc. (private). It impounds the Otter River near Templeton.
The dam stands 10 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 80 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 38 square miles. Completed in 1946, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years of service.
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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 09/30/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Templeton |
| River/Stream | Otter River |
| Coordinates | 42.59636, -72.05173 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 10 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1946 (80 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 80 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 38 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Other |
| Owner | Seaman Paper Company of MA Inc. |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Low |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 09/30/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Not Required |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01246 |
| Federal ID | MA01246 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |