Holden Reservoir Dam #2 dam
Holden Reservoir Dam #2
Holden Reservoir Dam #2, located in Holden, Massachusetts, is a crucial structure owned by the local government for water supply purposes. Standing at a height of 66.1 feet and with a hydraulic height of 54.8 feet, the dam serves to control Tatnuck Brook and has a normal storage capacity of 758 acre-feet. Built in 1900, the dam has a surface area of 50.5 acres and a drainage area of 5.3 square miles, making it a significant component of the region's water resource infrastructure.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, Holden Reservoir Dam #2 has a high hazard potential but was assessed to be in satisfactory condition during its last inspection in December 2017. Despite its age, the dam has been maintained to meet state regulatory standards, with regular inspections scheduled every 2 years. In case of emergencies, the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared as of the last revision in June 2007, but its risk assessment deems the overall risk as moderate.
With its historical significance and functional importance for water supply in Worcester County, Holden Reservoir Dam #2 represents a vital piece of infrastructure that requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance to ensure the safety and reliability of the water resource system. As climate change increasingly impacts water resources, the dam's role in managing and storing water becomes even more critical, emphasizing the need for continued attention to its condition and risk management measures.
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 Holden Reservoir Dam #2 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 27 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 16 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 22 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 139 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Holden Reservoir Dam #2.
Boat launches
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Minha Casa
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Otter River State Forest
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
Track Holden Reservoir Dam #2 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 Holden Reservoir Dam #2
Where does the data for Holden Reservoir Dam #2 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 Holden Reservoir Dam #2.