South Athol Pond Dam dam
South Athol Pond Dam
South Athol Pond Dam, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a privately owned earth dam with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at a height of 11 feet and a hydraulic height of 7.5 feet, controls Thrower Brook and Riceville Brook, with a storage capacity of 600 acre-feet. The dam has a surface area of 83.2 acres and a drainage area of 9.6 square miles, making it a significant structure in the region.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, South Athol Pond Dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections, with a condition assessment rating of 'Satisfactory'. The dam poses a significant hazard potential, but its risk assessment is moderate. Despite not having an Emergency Action Plan prepared, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and has not required any major risk management measures. With its recreational purpose and importance in controlling water resources, South Athol Pond Dam plays a crucial role in the water infrastructure of the area.
Overall, South Athol Pond Dam serves as a vital structure for water resource management and recreation in Worcester, Massachusetts. With its significant storage capacity and state regulation, the dam provides both leisure opportunities and essential control over local waterways. Despite its hazard potential, the dam's satisfactory condition and moderate risk assessment indicate a well-managed and monitored structure, ensuring the safety and functionality of the surrounding area for both residents and visitors.
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 South Athol Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| West Branch Swift River Near Shutesbury | 20 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| East Branch Swift River Near Hardwick | 106 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Millers River At Erving | 955 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near South Athol Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Regulating Dam Road, New Salem
- Main Street 2010, Athol
- North Orange Road 52-534, Athol
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
- Dana Road, Petersham
- River Road Royalston
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Tully Lake
- Erving State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Otter River State Forest
- North Dennison Camping Area
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
Track South Athol 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 South Athol Pond Dam
Where does the data for South Athol 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 South Athol Pond Dam.