Conant Brook Dam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Conant Brook Dam |
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Conant Brook Dam
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| Official name | Conant Brook Dam |
| Location | Monson, Massachusetts |
| Construction began | 1964 |
| Opening date | 1966 |
| Operator(s) | Army Corps of Engineers |
| Dam and spillways | |
| Impounds | Conant Brook |
| Height | 85 ft (21.03 m) |
| Length | 1,050 ft (979.9 m) |
| Reservoir | |
| Creates | Conant Brook flood control reservoir |
The Conant Brook Dam is a special kind of wall built across Conant Brook in Monson, Massachusetts. It's about 7.4 miles (11.9 km) upstream from where Conant Brook joins the Quaboag River. This dam is also about 15 miles (24 km) east of Springfield, Massachusetts.
It was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which is a part of the U.S. Army that helps with engineering projects. The dam's main job is to stop big floods along the Quaboag, Chicopee, and Connecticut rivers. Building the dam started in 1964 and finished in 1966. It cost about $2.95 million to build.
The Conant Brook Dam is located in the area where water flows into the Chicopee River. This whole area is part of the larger Connecticut River basin. You can get to the dam from State Route 32 and State Route 19.
Contents
What is the Conant Brook Dam Like?
This dam is made from packed earth and rocks. It has a strong stone layer on its slopes to protect it. The dam is 1,050 feet (320 m) long and 85 feet (26 m) tall.
There's also a smaller wall, called a dike, which is 900 feet (274 m) long and up to 20 feet (6.1 m) high. The dam has a special overflow area called a spillway. This spillway is cut into rock and has a concrete wall 100 feet (30 m) wide. The top of this wall is 14 feet (4.3 m) lower than the very top of the dam.
How Does the Dam Control Floods?
The Conant Brook Dam does not have a lake behind it all the time. Instead, it has a large, empty area called a flood storage area. This area is usually dry. When there's a lot of rain, this area fills up with floodwaters. This helps to prevent flooding downstream.
The flood storage area covers about 158 acres (0.64 km²) in Monson, Massachusetts. The entire dam project, including all its land, covers 456 acres (1.85 km²). The dam can hold a huge amount of water for flood control, about 1.3 billion US gallons (4.9 million m³). This is like holding 9.0 inches (229 mm) of water runoff from its drainage area, which is 7.8 square miles (20 km²).
One time, in October 2005, the water behind the dam reached 35 feet (11 m) deep at the inlet channel. This showed how well it can hold back floodwaters.
Fun Things to Do at Conant Brook Dam
The Army Corps of Engineers takes care of the land around the dam. They keep it safe for flood control and also for people to enjoy quiet outdoor activities.
Trails and Outdoor Activities
There are 4.7 miles (7.6 km) of trails where you can go hiking, mountain biking, or horseback riding. There are also 1.7 miles (2.7 km) of service roads. These roads are closed to cars but are great for walking or biking.
The main entrance and a parking area are on Wales Road in Monson. This is about 1 mile (1.6 km) east of State Route 32. You'll find an information sign there. You can also find limited parking at the ends of East Hill Road and Waterworks Road. Another parking spot is at the north end of the project, off Munn Road.
Please remember that camping is not allowed at the Conant Brook Dam.
