Spot Pond Dam - Stoneham, MA
Posted by: 
NorStar
N 42° 27.305 W 071° 05.482
19T E 328034 N 4702424
The Spot Pond Dam is an earthen dam that created a reservoir that is now a backup water supply for the Boston Metropolitan Area.
Waymark Code: WMD0ND
Location: Massachusetts, United States
Date Posted: 11/02/2011
Views: 6
In Stoneham, on the east shore of Spot Pond, is an earthen dam and ornate gatehouse.
The dam is off Woodland Road, near the intersection with Ravine Road. There is a parking lot for a boat rental next to the dam.
According to findlakes.com, construction of the dam was completed in 1880. At that time, the Massachusetts District Commission owned the waterworks for Boston. This organization has since been split apart. One component is now the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), which is in charge of the water and the delivery of that water to Boston, and DCR absorbed the rest to maintain natural resources such as parks and woods. Its length is 650 feet. Its capacity is 3000 acre feet. Normal storage is 1842 acre feet. It appears that walking is not permitted on the dam.
Limited recreation is available on Spot Pond. There is a canoe/kayak/sail boat rental place next to the dam. Motor boating is not permitted on the lake. Neither are private boats. Spot Pond is surrounded by the Middlesex Fells Reservation, which is a large park where you can walk on over 100 miles of trails, as well as mountain bike on some trails.
The actuual dam height is difficult to determine. Ten feet was estimated at this time. The water disappears under the gatehouse and under the road before it reappears well into the woods downstream. From there the water traverses through old mill ponds and improved dams, dropping about 80 feet in about a tenth mile.
Sources:
Findlakes.com (Spot Pond):
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visit link)
Department of Conservation and Recreation (Middlesex Fells Reservation):
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visit link)