Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam dam
Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam
Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam, located in Marlborough, Massachusetts, was completed in 1848 and serves as a vital recreational resource in the area. With a height of 30 feet and a length of 325 feet, this earth dam holds a maximum storage capacity of 4800 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 4000 acre-feet. The reservoir covers a surface area of 0.41 square miles and drains an area of 3.44 square miles, providing ample recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam is considered a high hazard potential structure due to its location and the consequences of a potential failure. However, as of the last inspection in August 2015, the dam was deemed to be in satisfactory condition. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam's emergency action plan is crucial in ensuring the safety of surrounding communities in case of an emergency. While the dam is primarily used for recreational purposes, its management and maintenance play a vital role in water resource and climate management in the region.
The Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam is a significant feature along the Assabet River, providing not only recreational benefits but also serving as a critical infrastructure for water management in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. With its historical significance dating back to the 19th century, the dam continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in understanding the intersection of human-made structures and natural ecosystems. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and functionality, its role in the local community and environmental landscape remains paramount.
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 Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Assabet River At Maynard | 95 cfs | → |
| Sudbury River At Saxonville | 112 cfs | → |
| Lake Cochituate Outlet At Framingham | 25 cfs | → |
| Nashoba Brook Near Acton | 7 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 149 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Bk Below Cambridge Res Nr Kendall Green | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Harvard Road 314, Stow
- Bartlett Street 152, Northborough
- Emerald Bracelet, Northborough
- Chauncy Street 19, Westborough
- Lakeview Avenue 98, Framingham
- Seymour Street 1a, Concord
Track Fort Meadow Reservoir 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 Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Fort Meadow Reservoir 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 Fort Meadow Reservoir Dam.