Bowen's Pond Dam dam
Bowen's Pond Dam
Bowen's Pond Dam, located in Wendell, Massachusetts, stands as a historic masonry structure completed in 1900 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam spans 80 feet in length and reaches a hydraulic height of 8 feet, providing a storage capacity of 217.24 acre-feet. Situated on Osgood Brook, the dam is state-regulated and maintained by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring its compliance with inspection, enforcement, and permitting requirements.
Despite its age, Bowen's Pond Dam boasts a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment as of the last inspection in December 2009. The dam's risk assessment stands at a moderate level, indicating the need for ongoing monitoring and potential risk management measures. With a drainage area of 27.87 square miles, the dam serves as a vital component in the local water resource infrastructure, contributing to the conservation and recreational activities in the area.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Bowen's Pond Dam a fascinating case study in historical dam engineering and management. From its modest surface area of 0.03 square miles to its uncontrolled spillway, the dam represents a balance between recreational use and environmental stewardship. As efforts continue to ensure the dam's safety and functionality, it remains a testament to the intersection of human ingenuity and natural resource preservation in the heart of Franklin County, Massachusetts.
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 Bowen's Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Millers River At Erving | 1,210 cfs | → |
| West Branch Swift River Near Shutesbury | 28 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Montague City | 36,200 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bowen's Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Regulating Dam Road, New Salem
- North Orange Road 52-534, Athol
- Main Street 2010, Athol
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
- River Road Royalston
- Dana Road, Petersham
Campgrounds
- Erving State Forest
- Richardson-Zlogar Cabin
- Barton Cove
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Tully Lake
- Falls Brook Shelter
Paddle runs
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Headwaters To First Bridge
Track Bowen's 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 Bowen's Pond Dam
Where does the data for Bowen's 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 Bowen's Pond Dam.