Lake Monomonac Dam dam
Lake Monomonac Dam
Lake Monomonac Dam in Winchendon, Massachusetts, is a vital water resource for recreation enthusiasts and climate advocates alike. Completed in 2005, this earth dam stands at a height of 15.5 feet and holds a maximum storage capacity of 4340 acre-feet. The dam's primary purpose is recreation, offering a surface area of 595 acres for water-based activities.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam is state-regulated and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite a fair condition assessment, the dam poses a high hazard potential, prompting moderate risk assessment. The North Branch of Millers River flows through this area, enriching the surrounding landscape and contributing to the dam's ecological significance.
Lake Monomonac Dam serves as a critical infrastructure for water management in Worcester County, Massachusetts, highlighting the intersection of environmental conservation and public safety. As climate change continues to impact water resources, the maintenance and regulation of dams like Lake Monomonac become increasingly crucial for sustainable water management practices and community resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Lake Monomonac Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 173 cfs | → |
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 38 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 97 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| Contoocook River At Peterborough | 140 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Monomonac Dam.
Boat launches
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
- River Road Royalston
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
Campgrounds
- Lake Dennison State Park
- East Dennison Camping Area
- North Dennison Camping Area
- Otter River State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
Paddle runs
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Begins In Franklin To Sewall's Island
Track Lake Monomonac 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 Lake Monomonac Dam
Where does the data for Lake Monomonac 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 Lake Monomonac Dam.