Hamilton Reservoir Dam dam
Hamilton Reservoir Dam
Hamilton Reservoir Dam, located in Hampden, Massachusetts, was completed in 1960 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam, standing at a height of 17 feet with a hydraulic height of 12 feet, serves to store water for various recreational activities in the area. With a normal storage capacity of 1918 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 4200 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in providing water resources for the surrounding community.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Hamilton Reservoir Dam is state-regulated and inspected regularly to ensure its safety and functionality. Despite being classified with a high hazard potential, the dam is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of May 2016. With a drainage area of 17.95 square miles and a surface area of 400 acres, the dam contributes significantly to the conservation and management of water resources in the region.
Situated on the Quinebaug River, the Hamilton Reservoir Dam is an essential infrastructure for recreational and environmental purposes. With its earth dam type and uncontrolled spillway, the dam presents a moderate risk level that necessitates ongoing risk management measures. As a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts, the dam offers a unique opportunity to appreciate the intersection of infrastructure, nature, and community engagement in water management practices.
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 Hamilton Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 18 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 31 cfs | → |
| Quaboag River At West Brimfield | 51 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 44 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Gibbs Crossing | 69 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hamilton Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Clark Road Extension 303, Sturbridge
- Bigelow Pond
- Wilbur Cross Highway Union
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- Cottage Street 2-38, West Brookfield
Campgrounds
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Brialee
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Westover Arb Military
- George Washington State Campground
- Highland Campground
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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Hamilton 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 Hamilton Reservoir Dam.