Pine Brook Dam dam
Pine Brook Dam
Pine Brook Dam, located in Hardwick, Massachusetts, was completed in 1950 and stands at a height of 7 feet with a hydraulic height of 5 feet. This private dam on Pine Hill Brook serves the primary purpose of recreation, offering a storage capacity of 80 acre-feet and a drainage area of 2.4 square miles. With a low hazard potential and fair condition assessment, the dam is under state regulation by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place.
The concrete dam, with a length of 120 feet and a buttress core type, features an uncontrolled spillway and is designed to withstand moderate risks according to its risk assessment. The dam's condition was last assessed in 2009, with an inspection frequency of 10 years. Despite having no outlet gates, associated structures, or emergency action plan in place, Pine Brook Dam remains a significant recreational resource in Worcester County. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find this dam's history, design, and regulatory oversight intriguing in the context of sustainable water management and conservation efforts.
While Pine Brook Dam's storage capacity, surface area, and maximum discharge remain unspecified, its role in providing recreational opportunities and managing water resources in the region is essential. With James P. McGovern (D) representing the area in Congress, the dam's presence on Pine Hill Brook contributes to the overall ecological and hydrological landscape of Massachusetts. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and regulation of Pine Brook Dam serve as vital components in ensuring its longevity and effectiveness for both recreational and conservation purposes.
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 Pine Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 139 cfs | → |
| East Branch Swift River Near Hardwick | 74 cfs | → |
| Ware River Near Barre | 91 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 16 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Gibbs Crossing | 282 cfs | → |
| Swift River At West Ware | 42 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Pine Brook Dam.
Boat launches
- Hardwick Road, Hardwick
- Dana Road, Petersham
- Walter Drive 2-98, Ware
- Cottage Street 2-38, West Brookfield
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Otter River State Forest
- East Dennison Camping Area
- North Dennison Camping Area
- Lake Dennison State Park
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Track Pine Brook 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 Pine Brook Dam
Where does the data for Pine Brook 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 Pine Brook Dam.