Forge Pond Dam dam
Forge Pond Dam
Forge Pond Dam, located in Canton, Massachusetts, serves as a vital recreational resource for the community. Completed in 1949, this concrete gravity dam stands at a height of 11.2 feet, with a hydraulic height of 13 feet. The dam boasts a storage capacity of 160 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 28.8 acres, providing ample space for outdoor activities and water-based recreation.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Forge Pond Dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam's condition assessment in 2017 deemed it satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential. Despite its moderate risk rating, the dam's risk management measures are currently unlisted, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance to mitigate potential threats and ensure the safety of the surrounding area.
With its picturesque location on the Canton River, Forge Pond Dam offers a serene escape for water resource and climate enthusiasts to appreciate the beauty of nature while engaging in recreational pursuits. As a key asset for the local government, the dam plays a crucial role in providing residents with a safe and enjoyable environment for outdoor activities, highlighting its significance as a valuable resource in the region.
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 Forge Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Neponset River At Canton | 25 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Norwood | 21 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Greenlodge St Near Canton | 85 cfs | → |
| Mother Brook At Dedham | 88 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Milton Village | 194 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Dover | 157 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Forge Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Beach Street Sharon
- Ames Street Dedham
- Providence Highway 267, Dedham
- Town Street 128, Braintree
- Needham Street 511, Dedham
- Randolph Street 315, Weymouth
Track Forge 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 Forge Pond Dam
Where does the data for Forge 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 Forge Pond Dam.