National Program for Inspection of Non-Federal Dams. Sawyer Pond Dam (MA 00050), Connecticut River Basin, Northfield, Massachusetts.
Abstract
Sawyer Pond Dam is a 170 year old earth embankment about 150 feet long with a top width of 40 feet and a maximum height of about 27 feet. Both the upstream, and downstream slopes are approximately 1H:1V. The concrete drop box inlet spillway has a crest length of 19 feet. Discharge over the spillway passes through the embankment within an 8-foot by 8-foot concrete culvert. Country route 142 (Mt. Herman Station Road) traverses the embankment crest. The dam was originally constructed to provide hydropower for a millworks. The impoundment is currently used for private recreation only. The dam appears to be in fair condition. the roots of trees growing on the embankment slopes may increase the seepage potential and high winds may dislodge the trees removing significant portions of embankment material. The absence of erosion protection on the upstream slope exposes the dam to possible damage from erosion. The deterioration of the upstream retaining walls could lead to slope instability. The dam has a low-level outlet consisting of two, four-inch diameter taps with valves mounted on a blind flange fitted to the downstream end of a 32-inch diameter cast iron pipe outlet. The test flood inflow for the facility is 3,860 cfs. The routed test flood outflows of 3,570 cfs overtops the dam by 3.2 feet. The spillway capacity prior to overtopping of the dam is 885 cfs or about 25 percent of the routed test flood outflow.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA145238
Entities
Organizations
- New England District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers