Watertown Dam
Encyclopedia
The Watertown Dam spans the Charles River
980 feet (298.7 m) upstream from the Watertown Bridge
near Watertown Square in the Town of Watertown
, Massachusetts
where the Charles River tidal estuary ends. Watertown Dam is of earthen construction, a gravity dam. Its length is 220 feet (67.1 m). Its capacity is 30 acre.ft. Normal storage is 20 acre.ft. It drains an area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²).
The history of the dam traces back to 1632 when construction of a fish weir
was authorized. The current dam, maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, dates from 1900. It is part of the Upper Charles River Reservation.
Charles River
The Charles River is an long river that flows in an overall northeasterly direction in eastern Massachusetts, USA. From its source in Hopkinton, the river travels through 22 cities and towns until reaching the Atlantic Ocean at Boston...
980 feet (298.7 m) upstream from the Watertown Bridge
Watertown Bridge
The Watertown Bridge is a five-lane traffic bridge over the Charles River, carrying Rt. 16 and Galen Street. It connects Watertown Square on the north side and Watertown Yard on the south side of Watertown, Massachusetts. Pedestrian walkways line each side....
near Watertown Square in the Town of Watertown
Watertown, Massachusetts
The Town of Watertown is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 31,915 at the 2010 census.- History :Archeological evidence suggests that Watertown was inhabited for thousands of years before the arrival of settlers from England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
where the Charles River tidal estuary ends. Watertown Dam is of earthen construction, a gravity dam. Its length is 220 feet (67.1 m). Its capacity is 30 acre.ft. Normal storage is 20 acre.ft. It drains an area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²).
The history of the dam traces back to 1632 when construction of a fish weir
Weir
A weir is a small overflow dam used to alter the flow characteristics of a river or stream. In most cases weirs take the form of a barrier across the river that causes water to pool behind the structure , but allows water to flow over the top...
was authorized. The current dam, maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, dates from 1900. It is part of the Upper Charles River Reservation.