Quinsigamond Pond Dam dam
Quinsigamond Pond Dam
Quinsigamond Pond Dam in Worcester, Massachusetts, stands as a historic masonry structure completed in 1896 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at a height of 12.2 feet with a hydraulic height of 11.2 feet, holds a storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and serves an area with a drainage basin of 62.6 square miles. Despite its age, the dam's condition assessment is rated as poor, with a significant hazard potential and a moderate risk level.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Quinsigamond Pond Dam is state-regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced. The dam, situated on the Blackstone River, also boasts a spillway type of uncontrolled and lacks outlet gates. With a surface area of 17 acres and a normal storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, the dam remains a crucial recreational resource in the area, attracting water resource and climate enthusiasts alike.
Despite its historical significance and recreational value, the Quinsigamond Pond Dam's poor condition and significant hazard potential raise concerns for its long-term safety and effectiveness. Regular inspections and risk management measures are essential to ensure the dam's continued function and the safety of surrounding communities. Water resource and climate enthusiasts have a vested interest in the preservation and maintenance of this historic structure for future generations to enjoy.
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 Quinsigamond Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone River | 91 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 12 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 21 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Quinsigamond Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Minha Casa
- George Washington State Campground
- Grotonwood
- Pearl Hill Campground
Track Quinsigamond Pond Dam 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 Quinsigamond Pond Dam
Where does the data for Quinsigamond Pond Dam 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 Quinsigamond Pond Dam.