Willett Pond Dam dam
Willett Pond Dam
Willett Pond Dam, located in Norwood, Massachusetts, was completed in 1913 and serves as a recreational structure along the Bubbling Brook river. Standing at 25 feet high with a length of 900 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 2500 acre-feet. Despite its primary purpose for recreation, the dam is classified as having a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, requiring regular inspections to ensure public safety.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Willett Pond Dam is state-regulated and inspected, with enforcement measures in place. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and its hazard potential is considered moderate, resulting in a risk assessment rating of 3. While the dam's condition is listed as poor, efforts are likely underway to address any necessary repairs or improvements to mitigate potential risks associated with its aging infrastructure.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Willett Pond Dam presents a unique case study in the management and maintenance of historic earth dams. With its notable design and location, the dam provides a valuable recreational resource while also posing challenges in ensuring its structural integrity and public safety. Ongoing monitoring and risk management measures will be crucial in preserving the dam's functionality and preventing potential hazards in the future.
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 Willett Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Neponset River At Norwood | 15 cfs | → |
| East Branch Neponset River At Canton | 19 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Greenlodge St Near Canton | 76 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Dover | 154 cfs | → |
| Mother Brook At Dedham | 48 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Medway | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Willett Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Beach Street Sharon
- Ames Street Dedham
- Providence Highway 267, Dedham
- Bridge Street 1, Dover
- Blue Trail Sherborn
- Needham Street 511, Dedham
Track Willett 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 Willett Pond Dam
Where does the data for Willett 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 Willett Pond Dam.