Butterfield Pond Dam
Butterfield Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, built in 1938. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
About Butterfield Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Butterfield 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 Lexington (local government). It impounds the Vine Brook near Lexington; Burlington.
The dam stands 22 feet tall and stretches 350 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 2 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 196 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 1 square miles. Completed in 1938, the structure is well-established, with more than 75 years 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 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 11/21/2019.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Middlesex |
| Nearest City | Lexington; Burlington |
| River/Stream | Vine Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.47040, -71.21021 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 22 ft |
| Dam Length | 350 ft |
| Year Completed | 1938 (88 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 196 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 196 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 26 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 2 acres |
| Drainage Area | 1 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 260 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Town of Lexington |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 11/21/2019 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA02274 |
| Federal ID | MA02274 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |