Irish Dam dam
Irish Dam
The Irish Dam, located in Grafton, Massachusetts, is a state-regulated structure managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This earth dam, with a height of 13 feet and a hydraulic height of 4 feet, serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing important habitat for local wildlife. With a normal storage capacity of 950 acre-feet and a drainage area of 24.3 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance in the region.
The dam, constructed on the Quinsigamond River, has a significant hazard potential and is classified as having a fair condition assessment. Despite its moderate risk level, the dam's inspection frequency is set at 5 years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. With a storage capacity of 1900 acre-feet and a surface area of 272 acres, the Irish Dam contributes to the recreational and environmental well-being of the community. The dam's uncontrolled spillway type and lack of outlet gates necessitate careful monitoring and management to mitigate any potential risks.
Overall, the Irish Dam stands as a vital water resource infrastructure in Worcester County, Massachusetts, supporting fish and wildlife conservation efforts while providing recreational opportunities for the local community. As a state-regulated structure, it undergoes regular inspections and enforcement to ensure public safety and environmental protection. With its strategic location on the Quinsigamond River, the Irish Dam remains a key component in the region's water management and conservation efforts.
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 Irish Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 27 cfs | → |
| West River Below West Hill Dam | 1 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Irish Dam.
Boat launches
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Chauncy Street 19, Westborough
- Emerald Bracelet, Northborough
Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Minha Casa
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Grotonwood
- Pearl Hill Campground
Paddle runs
Track Irish 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 Irish Dam
Where does the data for Irish 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 Significant 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 Irish Dam.