Dawson Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 15 ft15 ft tall and 200 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 Dawson Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Dawson Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Town of Holden (local government). It impounds the Chaffin Brook near Holden.
The dam stands 15 feet tall and stretches 200 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 22 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 101 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1960, the structure is well into its service life at over 50 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. The most recent inspection on record was 10/05/2023.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Holden |
| River/Stream | Chaffin Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.33528, -71.84917 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 15 ft |
| Dam Length | 200 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 101 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 101 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 38 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 22 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Holden |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 10/05/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01303 |
| Federal ID | MA01303 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |