Mill Pond South Dike dam
Mill Pond South Dike
Mill Pond South Dike in Burlington, Massachusetts, serves as a vital water supply structure, completed in 1973 with a primary purpose of water supply. The concrete dam stands at a height of 50 feet and has a storage capacity of 1,746 acre-feet, providing essential resources for the surrounding area. The dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, with state jurisdiction and enforcement ensuring its safety and functionality.
The dam, part of the Pumped Storage Reservoir from Shawsheen River, covers a surface area of 53 acres and has a drainage area of 0.2 square miles. Despite being rated as having a high hazard potential, the condition assessment in 2016 deemed it to be in fair condition. The dam is inspected every two years to maintain its integrity, with emergency action plans in place to address any potential risks. The risk assessment categorizes it as high, emphasizing the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance to protect the surrounding community and water resources.
Mill Pond South Dike stands as a crucial component of the local water supply infrastructure, ensuring a reliable source of water for Burlington and the surrounding area. With a focus on water supply as its primary purpose, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources and supporting the needs of the community. While it faces challenges in terms of hazard potential and risk, ongoing inspections and maintenance efforts aim to mitigate any potential issues and safeguard the dam's functionality for years to come.
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 Mill Pond South Dike -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 20 cfs | → |
| Aberjona River At Winchester | 8 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford | 7 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Brook At Mill St Nr Lincoln | 0 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River At South Middleton | 19 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Bk Below Cambridge Res Nr Kendall Green | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Pond South Dike.
Boat launches
- Farm Road, Billerica
- Pond Lane Arlington
- Woods Road Andover
- Pond Path, Concord
- Charles River Greenway Waltham
- Billerica Street 5-65, Lowell
Track Mill Pond South 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 Mill Pond South Dike
Where does the data for Mill Pond South 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 Mill Pond South Dike.