Talbot Mills Dam dam
Talbot Mills Dam
Talbot Mills Dam, located in Billerica, Massachusetts, is a historic masonry dam constructed in 1828 on the Concord River. With a height of 16 feet and a storage capacity of 162 acre-feet, this dam serves a primary purpose of "Other," with features such as an uncontrolled spillway and a significant hazard potential. The dam is regulated by the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, with state permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
The dam has a fair condition assessment as of November 2015, with a moderate risk level assigned. Despite its age, Talbot Mills Dam continues to provide important water resource management functions for the surrounding area, including a normal storage capacity of 110 acre-feet and a drainage area of 370 square miles. While it may not have associated locks or outlet gates, the dam remains a significant structure on the Concord River, contributing to the local ecosystem and water supply.
Enthusiasts interested in water resources and climate will find Talbot Mills Dam to be a fascinating example of historic dam engineering in Massachusetts. Its location on the Concord River, its design as a masonry structure with a buttress core, and its storage capacity and surface area all contribute to its importance in managing water flow and storage in the region. With ongoing inspections and a regulated status, the dam continues to play a vital role in water resource management in Middlesex County.
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 Talbot Mills Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 416 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 26,000 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 38 cfs | → |
| Nashoba Brook Near Acton | 10 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford | 7 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Brook At Mill St Nr Lincoln | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Talbot Mills Dam.
Boat launches
- Billerica Street 5-65, Lowell
- Farm Road, Billerica
- Pawtucket Boulevard 936-970, Lowell
- Woods Road Andover
- Willowdale Avenue 1-53, Dracut
- Methuen Riverside Boat Ramp
Track Talbot Mills 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 Talbot Mills Dam
Where does the data for Talbot Mills 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 Talbot Mills Dam.