Searles Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1979. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 8 ft8 ft tall and 130 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 Searles Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Searles Pond Dam is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City of Methuen (local government). It impounds the Spicket River near Methuen.
The dam stands 8 feet tall and stretches 130 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 25 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 0 square miles. Completed in 1979, the structure is 47 years old.
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 fair — the dam has minor deficiencies that are being addressed or do not pose an immediate safety threat. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 10/16/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Methuen |
| River/Stream | Spicket River |
| Coordinates | 42.73051, -71.16520 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 8 ft |
| Dam Length | 130 ft |
| Year Completed | 1979 (47 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 25 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 0 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Methuen |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/16/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01284 |
| Federal ID | MA01284 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |