Phelon Pond Dam dam
Phelon Pond Dam
Phelon Pond Dam, located in Granville, Massachusetts, is a gravity dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Built in 1940, this dam stands at 18 feet high and spans 445 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 50 acre-feet. The dam is situated on Exit Brook and is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts.
Despite being categorized as having a low hazard potential, the dam's risk assessment is moderate, with a rating of 3 out of 5. The condition assessment of Phelon Pond Dam is currently not rated, and it has not been inspected in the past 10 years. While the dam has not been evaluated for its emergency action plan readiness or inundation mapping, it is still considered to be in moderate risk and in need of regular monitoring and potential risk management measures.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts may find Phelon Pond Dam to be an intriguing structure due to its historical significance and recreational purpose. With its location in a picturesque setting in Hampden County, Massachusetts, this gravity dam serves as both a functional water control structure and a popular spot for outdoor activities. While it may not currently be considered a high-risk dam, ongoing monitoring and evaluation of its condition and emergency preparedness are essential to ensuring the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of this important water resource.
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 Phelon Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 14 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 59 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 79 cfs | → |
| Westfield River Near Westfield | 456 cfs | → |
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Phelon Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Howells Pond
- Main Road, Tolland
- Old Apremont Way, Westfield
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- West Street 121, Springfield
- Highland Lake
Campgrounds
- Granville State Forest
- Tolland State Forest
- Chester - Blanford State Forest
- Roaring Brook Camp Area
- Primitve Camping Area
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
- Papermill Pond
- Reservoir Number 2
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters 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
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- 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 Phelon 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 Phelon Pond Dam
Where does the data for Phelon 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 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 Phelon Pond Dam.