Meadow Dam is an earth dam located in Essex County, Massachusetts, built in 1957. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 7 ft7 ft tall and 100 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 Meadow Dam
The primary purpose of Meadow 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 Danvers (local government). It impounds the Beaver Brook near Danvers.
The dam stands 7 feet tall and stretches 100 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 10 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 95 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 2 square miles. Completed in 1957, 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. An emergency action plan is in place for this dam. The most recent inspection on record was 08/24/2022.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Essex |
| Nearest City | Danvers |
| River/Stream | Beaver Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.56264, -70.94370 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 7 ft |
| Dam Length | 100 ft |
| Year Completed | 1957 (69 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 95 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 95 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 63 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Drainage Area | 2 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 870 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Danvers |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 08/24/2022 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA02267 |
| Federal ID | MA02267 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |