Cochichewick River Dam is a concrete dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1820. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a unsatisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 13 ft13 ft tall and 216 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic concrete gravity section and the water level is illustrative.
About Cochichewick River Dam
Cochichewick River Dam is a dam in Essex, Massachusetts. The dam is owned by Cygnus Opaque Investment LLC, Trustee of Black Swan Realty Trust (private). It impounds the Cochichewick River near N. Andover.
The dam stands 13 feet tall and stretches 216 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 3 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 32 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 7 square miles. Completed in 1820, the structure is one of the older dams in the region, with over a century and a half of service.
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 unsatisfactory, indicating serious safety deficiencies exist that require immediate attention or remedial action. The most recent inspection on record was 06/13/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | N. Andover |
| River/Stream | Cochichewick River |
| Coordinates | 42.70657, -71.13206 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Concrete |
| NID Height | 13 ft |
| Dam Length | 216 ft |
| Year Completed | 1820 (206 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 32 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 19 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 3 acres |
| Drainage Area | 7 sq mi |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Owner | Cygnus Opaque Investment LLC, Trustee of Black Swan Realty Trust |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Unsatisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 06/13/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA01595 |
| Federal ID | MA01595 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |