Valley Pond Dike dam
Valley Pond Dike
Valley Pond Dike, located in Weston, Massachusetts, is a private dam that serves primarily for recreational purposes. Built in 1961, this earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet and has a hydraulic height of 7 feet. With a storage capacity of 155 acre-feet and a surface area of 0.03 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing the water resources of the area.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Valley Pond Dike is regulated by the state of Massachusetts and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its structural integrity. Despite being classified as having a significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 deemed it satisfactory. With a high risk assessment rating of 2, it is evident that the authorities are taking necessary measures to mitigate any potential risks associated with the dam.
As part of the New England District, Valley Pond Dike contributes to the overall water management system in the region. Its location near a tributary to Stony Brook underscores its importance in the local ecosystem. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the critical role that this dam plays in balancing recreation and environmental conservation efforts in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
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 Valley Pond Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbs Bk Below Cambridge Res Nr Kendall Green | 7 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Rt 20 At Waltham | 27 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Brook At Mill St Nr Lincoln | 0 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Reservoir At Dam Near Waltham | 0 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 127 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Valley Pond Dike.
Boat launches
- Pond Path, Concord
- Charles River Greenway Waltham
- Woerd Avenue 29-49, Waltham
- South Great Road Lincoln
- Green Way Wayland
- Seymour Street 1a, Concord
Track Valley Pond 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 Valley Pond Dike
Where does the data for Valley Pond 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 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 Valley Pond Dike.