South Reservoir East Dike
South Reservoir East Dike is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1882. It carries a High hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About South Reservoir East Dike
The primary purpose of South Reservoir East Dike 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 Winchester (local government). It impounds the N/a near Medford.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 145 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 72 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,212 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1882, the structure is over a century old.
This dam carries a high hazard potential classification, which means that a failure or uncontrolled release of water would likely cause loss of human life. This classification reflects the consequences of failure, not the likelihood — it indicates that people live or work in the area downstream. 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 09/06/2023.
Living Downstream
If you live or work downstream of this dam, consider taking these steps: learn your local evacuation routes, check whether your county emergency management office has a dam failure inundation map, and sign up for local emergency alerts. The Massachusetts dam safety program can provide more specific information about emergency planning for this structure.
Search for dams near your address to see all dams in your area with hazard classifications and safety data.
Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Medford |
| River/Stream | N/a |
| Coordinates | 42.44313, -71.11283 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 145 ft |
| Year Completed | 1882 (144 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,212 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,212 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 811 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 72 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | None |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Water Supply |
| Owner | Town of Winchester |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | High |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/06/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01278 |
| Federal ID | MA00453S001 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |