Bowdish Lower dam
Bowdish Lower
Bowdish Lower is a privately-owned dam located in Glocester, Rhode Island, along the Mary Brown Brook. The dam is regulated by the state and undergoes regular inspections, with the last assessment in October 2017 revealing poor conditions and a high hazard potential. Despite its critical state, the dam lacks specific information on its structural attributes such as height, volume, and purpose, raising concerns about its ability to withstand potential environmental stressors like extreme weather events.
With a history of inadequate maintenance and a lack of detailed data on its specifications, Bowdish Lower presents a significant concern for water resource and climate enthusiasts. The dam's poor condition and high hazard potential underscore the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessments, management measures, and emergency action plans to mitigate potential threats to the surrounding community and environment. Additionally, the dam's uncertain structural integrity and the absence of clear regulatory oversight highlight the pressing need for proactive measures to address its vulnerabilities and ensure the safety of the area.
Given the limited information available on Bowdish Lower's design, construction, and purpose, stakeholders and authorities must prioritize a thorough evaluation of the dam's current state and develop targeted strategies for its rehabilitation or removal. As climate change continues to exacerbate the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, the resilience of critical infrastructure like Bowdish Lower becomes increasingly crucial in safeguarding water resources and communities. By addressing the dam's deficiencies and implementing robust risk management measures, stakeholders can better prepare for future challenges and protect the ecological and public health interests at stake.
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 Bowdish Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 319 cfs | → |
| Nipmuc River Near Harrisville | 14 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 491 cfs | → |
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 125 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 38 cfs | → |
| Ponaganset River At South Foster | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowdish Lower.
Boat launches
- Clarkville Pond
- Bowdish Reservoir
- Quaddick Reservoir
- Pascoag Reservoir Fishing Access
- North Road 1060, Killingly
- Smith
Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Brialee
- Highland Campground
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
Fishing spots
Track Bowdish Lower 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 Bowdish Lower
Where does the data for Bowdish Lower 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 High 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 Bowdish Lower.