Watson Pond dam
Watson Pond
Watson Pond, located in Otis, Massachusetts, is a picturesque water body primarily used for recreation. This private dam, built for the purpose of creating a water source for leisure activities, stands at a height of 8 feet with a hydraulic height of 6.5 feet. The dam has a storage capacity of 370 acre-feet and a drainage area of 0.6 square miles, making it a significant contributor to the local water ecosystem.
Although the dam is classified as having a low hazard potential, its condition assessment in 2011 was marked as poor. Despite being state-regulated and inspected, there are no recent records of maintenance or improvements. With the spillway type listed as uncontrolled, there may be concerns about the dam's ability to manage excess water in times of heavy precipitation. However, the risk assessment for Watson Pond is moderate, indicating a need for proactive risk management measures to ensure the safety and integrity of the dam for both recreational users and the surrounding environment. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Watson Pond presents an intriguing case study in balancing the benefits of man-made water structures with the potential risks they pose to the ecosystem.
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 Watson Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 75 cfs | → |
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 56 cfs | → |
| Westfield River At Knightville | 178 cfs | → |
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 11 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 286 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Watson Pond.
Boat launches
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Main Road, Tolland
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- Howells Pond
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Tolland State Forest
- Green Point
- Rocky Point
- Chester - Blanford State Forest
- Shaker Camp
- Granville State Forest
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Squantz Pond
Paddle runs
- 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 Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Watson Pond 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 Watson Pond
Where does the data for Watson Pond 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 Watson Pond.