Watertown Dam
| Watertown Dam | |
|---|---|
Watertown Dam from the south bank of the Charles River | |
| Location | Watertown, Massachusetts |
| Coordinates | 42°21′55″N 71°11′21″W / 42.36528°N 71.18917°W |
| Opening date | 1900 |
| Operator(s) | Department of Conservation and Recreation (Massachusetts) |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Charles River |
| Length | 220 feet (67 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Total capacity | 30 acre⋅ft (37,000 m3) |
| Catchment area | 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) |
The Watertown Dam spans the Charles River 980 feet (300 m) upstream from the Watertown Bridge near Watertown Square in Watertown, Massachusetts. The dam is located where the Charles River tidal estuary historically ended (the tides no longer reach this point because of the downstream Charles River Dam). Watertown Dam is of concrete construction, a gravity dam, last rebuilt in 1966. Its length is 220 feet (67 m). Its capacity is 30 acre-feet (37,000 m3). Normal storage is 20 acre-feet (25,000 m3). It drains an area of 0.2 square miles (0.52 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.