Prindle Lake Dam dam
Prindle Lake Dam
Prindle Lake Dam, located in Charlton, Massachusetts, was completed in 1952 and is owned by the local government. It serves primarily for recreational purposes, with a storage capacity of 250 acre-feet and a surface area of 80 acres. The dam is an earth type structure with a hydraulic height of 7 feet and a dam height of 11 feet, creating a tributary of Cady Brook. It is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and structural integrity.
Despite being classified with a significant hazard potential, the condition assessment of Prindle Lake Dam is deemed satisfactory as of the last inspection in January 2014. The dam has a moderate risk assessment rating of 3, indicating a level of risk management measures in place. While it does not have a designated Emergency Action Plan (EAP) prepared, the dam meets regulatory guidelines and is subject to a five-year inspection frequency to monitor its ongoing performance. With Richard E. Neal as the Congressional representative for the area, the dam continues to play a vital role in providing recreational opportunities and water resource management within Worcester County, Massachusetts.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Prindle Lake Dam offers a fascinating insight into the intersection of infrastructure, environmental regulation, and public safety. As a key element in the local water management system, the dam's design, construction, and maintenance showcase the intricate balance between human recreation and natural conservation. With ongoing monitoring and risk assessment, Prindle Lake Dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water resource management in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing demands on our natural ecosystems.
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 Prindle Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 142 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 85 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 180 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Prindle Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
- Clark Road Extension 303, Sturbridge
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Brialee
- George Washington State Campground
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Prindle Lake 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 Prindle Lake Dam
Where does the data for Prindle Lake 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 Prindle Lake Dam.