Worcester Diversion Levee System is an earth dam located in Worcester County, Massachusetts, built in 1960. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a satisfactory condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 20 ft20 ft tall and 530 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 Worcester Diversion Levee System
The primary purpose of Worcester Diversion Levee System is flood risk reduction. The dam is designed to control downstream flooding by temporarily storing excess water during storms and releasing it at a controlled rate. The dam is owned by City of Worcester (local government). It impounds the Kettle Brook near Auburn.
The dam stands 20 feet tall and stretches 530 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 6 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 1,090 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 30 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 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 09/07/2023.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Worcester |
| Nearest City | Auburn |
| River/Stream | Kettle Brook |
| Coordinates | 42.21881, -71.82749 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 20 ft |
| Dam Length | 530 ft |
| Year Completed | 1960 (66 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 1,090 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 6 acres |
| Drainage Area | 30 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 6,100 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Flood Risk Reduction |
| Owner | City of Worcester |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Satisfactory |
| Last Inspection | 09/07/2023 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA02732 |
| Federal ID | MA02732 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |