Massachusetts Dam Safety — USACE National Inventory
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams
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Dam Safety for Massachusetts, latest reading.
What this means
Massachusetts has roughly 2,500 dams in the federal inventory. Each dam is classified by potential downstream impact if it fails: High (loss of life expected), Significant (economic damage), or Low. The 2020 Edenville dam failure flooded thousands of homes — a reminder of why this list matters.
What you can do
- If you live downstream of a High-hazard dam, ask State EPA for the dam's Emergency Action Plan — they're public records.
- State EPA dam safety inspections are required every 1–4 years depending on hazard class.
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