Mill Pond Dam dam
Mill Pond Dam
Mill Pond Dam, located in Littleton, Massachusetts, is a concrete structure built in 1958 with a primary purpose of providing habitat for fish and wildlife. The dam stands at 16 feet tall and has a hydraulic height of 6 feet, holding a total storage capacity of 442 acre-feet. It is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and undergoes regular state inspections, with a hazard potential rated as low and a fair condition assessment as of June 2013.
Situated on a tributary of Beaver Brook, Mill Pond Dam plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of the area while also offering recreational opportunities for visitors. Its spillway type is listed as uncontrolled, and it has a drainage area of 1.7 square miles. With a moderate risk assessment rating and a designated emergency action plan frequency of 10 years, the dam is equipped to handle potential hazards and ensure the safety of surrounding communities. Despite its age, Mill Pond Dam continues to serve its intended purposes effectively while upholding state regulatory standards.
With Lori Trahan as the representative for the area, Mill Pond Dam remains a vital part of the water resource infrastructure in Middlesex County. Its design as a buttress type dam and its association with the New England District of the US Army Corps of Engineers highlight its significance in the region. As a state-regulated and permitted structure, the dam stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to manage and protect water resources in Massachusetts. Enthusiasts of water resource management and climate resilience will find Mill Pond Dam to be an intriguing example of sustainable infrastructure in action.
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 Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nashoba Brook Near Acton | 7 cfs | → |
| Assabet River At Maynard | 95 cfs | → |
| Nashua River At East Pepperell | 531 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 83 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 149 cfs | → |
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 311 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Emerson Drive Littleton
- Great Road 687, Littleton
- Harvard Road 314, Stow
- Seymour Street 1a, Concord
- Pawtucket Boulevard 936-970, Lowell
- Farm Road, Billerica
Track Mill 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 Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Mill 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 Low 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 Dam.