Birch Pond Dam dam
Birch Pond Dam
Birch Pond Dam, located in Lynn, Massachusetts, was completed in 1873 and is owned by the local government. The dam serves as a crucial water supply source, with a storage capacity of 1300 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 800 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 25 feet and has a hydraulic height of 21 feet, impounding Birch Brook to create a surface area of 75 acres for water storage.
This Earth-type dam with a buttress core is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts. Despite being assessed as in fair condition during the last inspection in October 2017, the dam has a high hazard potential due to its location and size. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, raising concerns about potential flooding risks in the event of heavy rainfall or other emergencies. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, ongoing risk management measures are needed to ensure the safety and integrity of Birch Pond Dam for the surrounding community and water supply.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Birch Pond Dam a fascinating structure to study, given its historical significance, purpose in water supply, and the challenges it faces in terms of hazard potential and risk management. Monitoring the condition of this dam and implementing necessary safety measures will be crucial to safeguarding the local environment and community in the face of changing climate conditions and potential natural disasters.
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 Birch Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saugus R At Saugus Iron Works At Saugus | 8 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River At South Middleton | 16 cfs | → |
| Aberjona River At Winchester | 8 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 15 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River Near Ipswich | 111 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 104 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birch Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Blossom Street Extension 398, Lynn
- Nahant Ave Ramp
- Terminal Street Charlestown
- Harbor Walk Charlestown
- Pond Lane Arlington
- Reid Rotary Cambridgeport
Track Birch 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 Birch Pond Dam
Where does the data for Birch 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 Birch Pond Dam.