Tisdale Pond Dam is a rockfill dam located in Bristol County, Massachusetts, built in 1770. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a fair condition assessment.
Dam profile
NID height · 11 ft11 ft tall and 138 ft long. Height is drawn to scale against a two-story house, about 25 ft; the profile is a generic rockfill embankment section and the water level is illustrative.
About Tisdale Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Tisdale Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Riverfront Business Park LLC (private). It impounds the Assonet River near Freetown.
The dam stands 11 feet tall and stretches 138 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 1 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 16 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 21 square miles. Completed in 1770, 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 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 05/18/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Bristol |
| Nearest City | Freetown |
| River/Stream | Assonet River |
| Coordinates | 41.79596, -71.06583 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Rockfill |
| NID Height | 11 ft |
| Dam Length | 138 ft |
| Year Completed | 1770 (256 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 16 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 8 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 1 acres |
| Drainage Area | 21 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 1,480 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Riverfront Business Park LLC |
| Owner Type | Private |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Fair |
| Last Inspection | 05/18/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | Yes |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA03049 |
| Federal ID | MA03049 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |