Walden Pond Outlet Dam dam
Walden Pond Outlet Dam
Located in Essex, Massachusetts, the Walden Pond Outlet Dam stands as a crucial piece of infrastructure for water supply purposes, serving as a vital resource for the surrounding communities. Completed in 1890, this earth dam has a height of 43.3 feet and a hydraulic height of 39.2 feet, with a storage capacity of 6900 acre-feet. The dam overlooks the Saugus River and Ipswich River, providing essential water storage and management for the region.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Walden Pond Outlet Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently rated as in fair condition, with regular inspections scheduled every two years. With its uncontrolled spillway type and moderate risk assessment, the dam plays a critical role in water resource management in the area, serving as a vital link in ensuring water supply sustainability and resilience against climate change impacts.
Standing as a testament to 19th-century engineering, the Walden Pond Outlet Dam remains a key component in the water infrastructure network of Massachusetts. With its strategic location and storage capacity, the dam plays a pivotal role in managing water resources for the region, highlighting the importance of sustainable water management practices in the face of changing climate patterns. As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, the dam serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness between water supply, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship in the face of evolving climate challenges.
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 Walden Pond Outlet 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 | → |
| Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walden Pond Outlet Dam.
Boat launches
- Blossom Street Extension 398, Lynn
- Nahant Ave Ramp
- Harbor Walk Charlestown
- Terminal Street Charlestown
- Pond Lane Arlington
- Reid Rotary Cambridgeport
Track Walden Pond Outlet 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 Walden Pond Outlet Dam
Where does the data for Walden Pond Outlet 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 Walden Pond Outlet Dam.