Dams in Essex County, Massachusetts
111Total Dams
34High Hazard
44Significant
Dam Safety in Essex County, Massachusetts
Essex County has 111 dams tracked in the National Inventory of Dams. Of these, 34 are classified as high hazard — meaning failure would probably cause loss of human life. Another 44 carry a significant hazard classification. Currently, 27 dams have a condition assessment of poor or unsatisfactory.
The average dam in Essex County is 111 years old. The most common purpose is recreation. The tallest dam is Dykes Meadow Dam at 54 ft.
Explore more: Oldest dams in Massachusetts · Tallest dams · High risk dams · Largest reservoirs
| Dam | Hazard | Condition | Height (ft) | Purpose | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goose Cove Northwest Dike | High | Fair | 44 | Water Supply | 1963 |
| Breeds Pond Outlet Dam No. 5 | High | Fair | 44 | Water Supply | 1870 |
| Haskell Pond Dam | High | Poor | 43 | Water Supply | 1903 |
| Walden Pond Outlet Dam | High | Fair | 43 | Water Supply | 1890 |
| Babson Reservoir Dam | High | Satisfactory | 43 | Water Supply | 1930 |
| Putnamville Reservoir Dam | High | Satisfactory | 37 | Water Supply | 1954 |
| Goose Cove North Dam | High | Fair | 35 | Water Supply | 1963 |
| Breeds Pond Lantern Rock Dike No. 4 | High | Fair | 30 | Water Supply | 1914 |
| Putnamville Reservoir West Dike | High | Satisfactory | 26 | Water Supply | 1954 |
| Hawkes Pond Outlet Dam | High | Fair | 26 | Water Supply | 1895 |
| Birch Pond Dam | High | Fair | 25 | Water Supply | 1873 |
| Lake Gardner Dam | High | Satisfactory | 25 | Recreation | 1872 |
| Putnamville Reservoir East Dike | High | Satisfactory | 24 | Water Supply | 1954 |
| Winona Pond Dam | High | Fair | 23 | Water Supply | 1971 |
| Wallace Pond Dam | High | Fair | 22 | Water Supply | 1850 |
| Stevens Pond Outlet Dam | High | Fair | 19 | Recreation | 1877 |
| Millvale Reservoir Dam | High | Fair | 18 | Water Supply | 1898 |
| Suntaug Lake Dam | High | Fair | 17 | Water Supply | 1971 |
| Upper Banjo Pond Dam | High | Poor | 17 | Recreation | 1908 |
| Goose Cove Reservoir South Dam | High | Fair | 17 | Water Supply | 1963 |
| Fernwood Lake North Dam | High | Poor | 16 | Recreation | 1877 |
| Strangman Pond Dam | High | Fair | 16 | Recreation | 1884 |
| Spring Pond Dam | High | Fair | 15 | Water Supply | |
| Fountain Pond Dam | High | Fair | 13 | Water Supply | 1902 |
| Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam | High | Fair | 13 | Water Supply | 1865 |
| Breeds Pond Dike No. 12 | High | Fair | 12 | Water Supply | 1914 |
| Breeds Pond Dike No. 11 | High | Fair | 12 | Water Supply | 1914 |
| Fernwood Lake West Dam | High | Poor | 11 | Recreation | 1877 |
| Breeds Pond Dike No. 8 | High | Fair | 10 | Water Supply | 1914 |
| Goose Cove Southwest Dike | High | Fair | 9 | Water Supply | 1963 |
| Walden Pond East End Dam | High | Fair | 8 | Water Supply | 1890 |
| Putnamville Reservoir South Dike | High | Satisfactory | 7 | Water Supply | 1954 |
| Fernwood Lake East Dam | High | Poor | 5 | Recreation | 1877 |
| Breeds Pond Dike No. 10 | High | Fair | 5 | Water Supply | 1914 |
| Dykes Meadow Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 54 | Water Supply | 1894 |
| Osgood Pond Dam | Significant | Poor | 28 | Other | |
| Methuen Falls | Significant | Satisfactory | 23 | Hydroelectric | 1895 |
| Mill Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 17 | Recreation | 1875 |
| Dow Brook Reservoir Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 17 | Water Supply | 1895 |
| Usmc Pond Upper Dam | Significant | Fair | 17 | Water Supply | 1904 |
| Johnson Creek Dam | Significant | Poor | 16 | Recreation | 1913 |
| Bethune Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 15 | Recreation | |
| Bailey Pond Dam | Significant | Poor | 15 | Recreation | 1912 |
| Ballardvale Dam | Significant | Fair | 14 | Recreation | 1753 |
| Mill Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 13 | Recreation | 2013 |
| Field Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 13 | Recreation | 1930 |
| Stevens Pond East Dam | Significant | Fair | 13 | Recreation | |
| Collins Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 13 | Recreation | 1930 |
| Cochichewick River Dam | Significant | Unsatisfactory | 13 | 1820 | |
| John Leo Silver Lake Dam | Significant | Poor | 13 | Recreation | |
| Brackett Pond Dam No. 1 And No. 2 | Significant | Poor | 13 | Recreation | 1930 |
| West Pond Outlet Dam | Significant | Unsatisfactory | 13 | Recreation | 1872 |
| Little River Dam | Significant | Fair | 12 | Recreation | |
| Frye Pond Dam | Significant | Unsatisfactory | 12 | Recreation | 1932 |
| Griswold Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 12 | Recreation | 1918 |
| Griswold Lower Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 12 | Recreation | 1983 |
| John A.w. Pearce Lake Dam | Significant | Poor | 11 | Recreation | |
| Stiles Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 10 | Recreation | 1920 |
| Tuxbury Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 10 | Water Supply | 1929 |
| South Middleton Dam | Significant | Poor | 10 | ||
| Mill Pond Dam | Significant | Unsatisfactory | 10 | Recreation | |
| Field Pond Dike | Significant | Satisfactory | 10 | Recreation | |
| Lynn Reservoir Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 10 | Water Supply | 1872 |
| Kenoza Lake Outlet Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 10 | Water Supply | 1979 |
| Fosters Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 10 | Recreation | |
| Johnsons Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 9 | Water Supply | 1930 |
| Buswell Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 9 | Recreation | 1923 |
| Pentucket Pond Outlet Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 9 | Recreation | |
| Lily Pond Outlet Dam | Significant | Fair | 9 | Recreation | |
| Crystal Lake Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 8 | Water Supply | 1930 |
| Spring Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 8 | Recreation | 1930 |
| Lake Pentucket Dam East | Significant | Fair | 8 | Water Supply | 1808 |
| Searles Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 8 | Flood Risk Reduction | 1979 |
| Fernwood Lake South Dike | Significant | Poor | 8 | Recreation | 1877 |
| Sidneys Pond Dam | Significant | Poor | 8 | Recreation | |
| Meadow Dam | Significant | Fair | 7 | Recreation | 1957 |
| Elginwood Pond Dam | Significant | Satisfactory | 7 | Recreation | |
| Pillings Pond Dam | Significant | Fair | 6 | Recreation | |
| Great Stone | Low | Satisfactory | 38 | Hydroelectric | 1848 |
| Indian Hill Reservoir Dam And Dikes | Low | Fair | 30 | Water Supply | 1981 |
| Carlson Quarry Reservoir Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 28 | Water Supply | 1953 |
| Lawrence Reservoir Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 28 | Water Supply | 1875 |
| Upper Artichoke Reservoir Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 15 | Water Supply | 1920 |
| Longham Reservoir Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 15 | Water Supply | 1975 |
| Emerson Brook Dam | Low | Fair | 15 | Water Supply | 1951 |
| Artichoke River Dam | Low | Poor | 15 | Other | 1950 |
| Towne Pond Dam | Low | Poor | 14 | Recreation | 1975 |
| Stevens Pond West Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 14 | Recreation | 1900 |
| Mill River Culvert And Tide Gate | Low | Fair | 13 | Flood Risk Reduction | |
| Sluice Pond Dam | Low | Poor | 12 | Recreation | 1900 |
| Middleton Pond Outlet Dam | Low | Fair | 12 | Water Supply | 1900 |
| Salem Pond Dam | Low | Fair | 12 | Recreation | 1930 |
| Farnums Mill Pond Dam | Low | Unsatisfactory | 12 | Recreation | 1900 |
| Ipswich Mills Dam | Low | Fair | 11 | 1637 | |
| Bull Brook Reservoir Dam | Low | Fair | 11 | Water Supply | 1988 |
| Stearns Pond Dam | Low | Fair | 11 | Recreation | 1930 |
| Lower Millpond Dam | Low | Unsatisfactory | 11 | Recreation | |
| Lower Artichoke Reservoir Dam | Low | Poor | 10 | Water Supply | 1920 |
| Winnekenni Basin Dam | Low | Satisfactory | 10 | Water Supply | 1970 |
| Mile Brook Dam | Low | Unsatisfactory | 10 | Fish and Wildlife Pond | |
| Lowe Pond Outlet Dam | Low | Fair | 10 | Recreation | 1960 |
| Creighton Pond Dam | Low | Poor | 10 | Recreation | |
| Four Mile Pond Dam | Low | Fair | 10 | Recreation | 1900 |
| Upper Millpond Dam | Low | Fair | 9 | Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond | 1920 |
| Central Street Dam | Low | Fair | 9 | Recreation | 1975 |
| Lynn Waterways Dam | Low | Fair | 8 | Water Supply | 1915 |
| Goldthwaite Brook Dam No. 2 | Low | Fair | 8 | Water Supply | |
| Mill Pond Dam | Low | Fair | 8 | Recreation | 1996 |
| Goldthwaite Brook Dam No. 1 | Low | Fair | 8 | Water Supply | |
| Forest Lake Dam | Low | Fair | 7 | Recreation | |
| Stateline Dam | Low | Poor | 7 | Recreation |