Russell Mill Pond dam
Russell Mill Pond
Russell Mill Pond, located in Kingston, Massachusetts, is a captivating water resource managed for hydroelectric power generation and recreational purposes. This privately owned earth dam structure, completed in 1898, stands at a height of 25 feet with a length of 400 feet, creating a reservoir with a storage capacity of 300 acre-feet. The pond covers a surface area of 30 acres and drains a watershed of 3 square miles, making it a vital resource for the surrounding community.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Russell Mill Pond is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation and compliance with environmental standards. Despite its low hazard potential, the pond poses a high risk due to its age and the lack of available condition assessment data. With a history dating back over a century, this water resource plays a crucial role in the region's energy production and recreational activities, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and risk management measures to safeguard its integrity for future generations.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, the unique characteristics and historical significance of Russell Mill Pond make it an intriguing subject for further exploration and study. With its diverse purposes, regulatory oversight, and risk assessment considerations, this hydroelectric facility embodies the intersection of human intervention with natural ecosystems, serving as a valuable case study for understanding the complexities of managing water resources in a changing climate.
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 Russell Mill Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Jones River At Kingston | 15 cfs | → |
| Indian Head River At Hanover | 23 cfs | → |
| Taunton River Near Bridgewater | 184 cfs | → |
| Quashnet River At Waquoit Village | 16 cfs | → |
| Old Swamp River Near South Weymouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Whitmans Pond Fish Ladder At East Weymouth | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Russell Mill Pond .
Boat launches
- Oak Street 30, Wareham
- Monponsett Street 470-556, Halifax
- 11th Avenue 22, Wareham
- Craven's Landing
- Indian Head Drive 1-307, Hanover
- Peters Pond Boat Ramp
Track Russell Mill 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 Russell Mill Pond
Where does the data for Russell Mill 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 Russell Mill Pond .