Howe Reservoir Dam is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 11 ft11 ft tall and 290 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 Howe Reservoir Dam
The primary purpose of Howe Reservoir Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation (state). It impounds the Cranberry River near Spencer.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 290 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 5 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 85 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 3 square miles.
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 04/04/2023.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Spencer |
| River/Stream | Cranberry River |
| Coordinates | 42.21332, -71.99891 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 290 ft |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 85 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 6 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 5 acres |
| Drainage Area | 3 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,800 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Ma Department of Conservation & Recreation |
| Owner Type | State |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 04/04/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA02542 |
| Federal ID | MA02542 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |