Harvard Pond Dam dam
Harvard Pond Dam
Harvard Pond Dam, located in Petersham, Massachusetts, serves as a vital recreational resource in the area. Owned privately, this earth dam stands at a height of 8 feet and spans 160 feet in length, providing a surface area of 86 acres for recreational activities. The dam's primary purpose is for recreation, with a normal storage capacity of 280 acre-feet and a maximum storage of 410 acre-feet.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Harvard Pond Dam is regulated by the state and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being assessed as in fair condition, the dam poses a significant hazard potential, prompting a moderate risk assessment. With a spillway type of uncontrolled and a drainage area of 3.1 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources for the East Branch Fever Brook.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Harvard Pond Dam a fascinating structure, not only for its recreational value but also for its role in water management and risk assessment. As a significant part of the local landscape, the dam's condition and management are crucial in ensuring the safety and sustainability of the surrounding ecosystem.
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 Harvard Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Swift River Near Hardwick | 106 cfs | → |
| West Branch Swift River Near Shutesbury | 20 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 102 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Harvard Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Regulating Dam Road, New Salem
- Main Street 2010, Athol
- North Orange Road 52-534, Athol
- Dana Road, Petersham
- River Road Royalston
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Tully Lake
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Otter River State Forest
- East Dennison Camping Area
- North Dennison Camping Area
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
Track Harvard Pond 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 Harvard Pond Dam
Where does the data for Harvard Pond 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 Harvard Pond Dam.