Wallis Pond Dam dam
Wallis Pond Dam
Wallis Pond Dam in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a gravity dam completed in 1900 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 3.5 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 125 acre-feet. Situated on a tributary of French River, the dam covers a surface area of 23 acres and serves as a popular recreational spot for locals and visitors alike. Despite its age, Wallis Pond Dam is rated as having low hazard potential and fair condition.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, Wallis Pond Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state agency. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and a drainage area of 3.56 square miles. With a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, the dam undergoes inspections every 10 years to ensure its continued safety and functionality. Although there are no associated structures or locks, the dam remains a vital part of the local water resource infrastructure.
With its historical significance and contribution to the recreational landscape in Dudley, Wallis Pond Dam serves as a key feature in the New England District. Under the ownership of the local government, the dam continues to provide essential water management functions while offering opportunities for outdoor activities and enjoyment. As climate and water resource enthusiasts, monitoring the condition and maintenance of dams like Wallis Pond is crucial in safeguarding our environment and ensuring sustainable water management practices for 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 Wallis Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 161 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 116 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 159 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wallis Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
- Wallum Lake Road 107, Douglas
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Quaddick Reservoir
- Clarkville Pond
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Wallis 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 Wallis Pond Dam
Where does the data for Wallis 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 Low 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 Wallis Pond Dam.