Horseshoe dam
Horseshoe
Horseshoe, also known as North Scituate Horseshoe, is a local government-owned dam located in Scituate, Rhode Island. Built in 1920, this earth-type dam serves the primary purpose of water supply, with a storage capacity of 1,935 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 1,314 acre-feet. Situated on the Pawtuxet River-North Branch, the dam has a structural height of 12 feet and a length of 240 feet, providing vital water resources for the surrounding area.
With a significant hazard potential, Horseshoe is subject to regular state inspections, enforcement, and permitting to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a maximum discharge capacity of 6,000 cubic feet per second and a spillway width of 240 feet. While the condition of the dam is currently not rated, emergency preparedness measures such as an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) are essential for mitigating risks associated with its operation.
The dam's strategic location and role in water supply underscore its importance in managing water resources and mitigating potential climate-related risks. As a key asset in flood control and water storage, Horseshoe plays a critical role in ensuring water security for the community while adhering to state regulatory requirements and safety standards.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Horseshoe -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Peeptoad Brook At Elmdale Rd Nr North Scituate | 3 cfs | → |
| Woonasquatucket River At Centerdale | 34 cfs | → |
| Ponaganset River At South Foster | 11 cfs | → |
| Moshassuck River At Providence | 19 cfs | → |
| Pawtuxet River At Cranston | 195 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 82 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Horseshoe.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Camp Hoffman
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Highland Campground
Fishing spots
Track Horseshoe in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Horseshoe
Where does the data for Horseshoe come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Horseshoe.