Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike dam
Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike
Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike, also known as Dry Reservoir, is a rockfill dam located in Athol, Massachusetts, along the Millers River. Built in 1942 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a structural height of 49 feet and a dam volume of 376,300 cubic yards. The dam has a high hazard potential and a moderate risk assessment rating, with a maximum discharge capacity of 56,600 cubic feet per second.
The dam is managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, who continuously monitor its condition and prioritize activities to mitigate flood risks. An Emergency Action Plan (EAP) is in place, although it does not fully meet guidelines. The Corps works with local emergency managers to raise public awareness and develop evacuation plans in case of a dam-related emergency. Regular maintenance and repairs are conducted to ensure the dam's structural integrity.
Despite the dam's risk management measures, there are still inherent risks associated with flood events and water releases. The Corps acknowledges the limitations of dam capacity and the potential for severe weather events to impact the dam's operations. Continued monitoring and collaboration with local authorities are essential for ensuring the safety and resilience of Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 33 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 121 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 105 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike.
Boat launches
- River Road Royalston
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
- Main Street 2010, Athol
- North Orange Road 52-534, Athol
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- North Dennison Camping Area
- East Dennison Camping Area
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Lake Dennison State Park
- Otter River State Forest
- Tully Lake
Paddle runs
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Sewall's Island To Manchester Street Bridge
Track Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike 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 Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike
Where does the data for Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike 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 Birch Hill Dam - Winchenden Dike.