Barrowsville Pond Dam
Barrowsville Pond Dam is an earth dam located in Bristol County, Massachusetts, built in 1920. It carries a Significant hazard potential classification and has a poor condition assessment.
About Barrowsville Pond Dam
The primary purpose of Barrowsville Pond Dam is recreation. The dam creates a reservoir used for recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and swimming. The dam is owned by Barrows Street Llc;town Of Norton (local government). It impounds the Wading River near Norton.
The dam stands 14 feet tall and stretches 850 feet across, creates a reservoir covering 48 acres, has a maximum storage capacity of 290 acre-feet, and collects water from a drainage area of 37 square miles. Completed in 1920, the structure is over a century 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 poor, meaning the dam has recognized safety deficiencies that require remediation to address risks. The most recent inspection on record was 12/13/2021.
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Location
| State | Massachusetts |
| County | Bristol |
| Nearest City | Norton |
| River/Stream | Wading River |
| Coordinates | 41.94870, -71.20315 |
Physical Characteristics
| Dam Type | Earth |
| NID Height | 14 ft |
| Dam Length | 850 ft |
| Year Completed | 1920 (106 years old) |
Storage & Hydraulics
| NID Storage | 290 acre-ft |
| Max Storage | 290 acre-ft |
| Normal Storage | 180 acre-ft |
| Surface Area | 48 acres |
| Drainage Area | 37 sq mi |
| Max Discharge | 500 cfs |
| Spillway Type | Uncontrolled |
Ownership & Safety
| Purpose | Recreation |
| Owner | Barrows Street LLC;Town of Norton |
| Owner Type | Local Government |
| Hazard Classification | Significant |
| Condition Assessment | Poor |
| Last Inspection | 12/13/2021 |
| Emergency Action Plan | No |
Identifiers
| NID ID | MA03069 |
| Federal ID | MA03069 |
| More Info | State Dam Safety Program |