Green Hill Pond Dam dam
Green Hill Pond Dam
Located in Worcester, Massachusetts, the Green Hill Pond Dam is a local government-owned structure that serves primarily for recreation. Completed in 1881, this earth dam stands at a height of 24.5 feet and has a hydraulic height of 16 feet, providing a normal storage capacity of 229 acre-feet. The dam, situated on Hermitage Brook, has a hazard potential classified as high, but its condition assessment in 2015 was deemed satisfactory.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, the Green Hill Pond Dam is regulated and permitted by the state, with regular inspections conducted to ensure its safety and functionality. The dam's purpose for recreation is further enhanced by its surface area of 28.3 acres and a drainage area of 0.22 square miles. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam's risk management measures and emergency action plans are not explicitly stated, suggesting potential areas for improvement to mitigate any hazards that may arise in the future.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will find the Green Hill Pond Dam to be a fascinating structure that not only provides recreational opportunities but also presents challenges in terms of risk management and safety. With a long history dating back to the 19th century, this dam serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem, highlighting the importance of maintaining and monitoring such infrastructure to ensure the well-being of surrounding communities and the environment.
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 Green Hill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 27 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 22 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Green Hill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Chauncy Street 19, Westborough
Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Minha Casa
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Grotonwood
- Pearl Hill Campground
Paddle runs
Track Green Hill 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 Green Hill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Green Hill 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 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 Green Hill Pond Dam.