Arden-Duck Mill Dam dam
Arden-Duck Mill Dam
Located in Fitchburg, Massachusetts, the Arden-Duck Mill Dam stands as a significant structure along the North Nashua River. Built in 1937, this gravity dam serves a primary purpose that extends beyond traditional water resource management. With a height of 18 feet and a storage capacity of 60 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and providing vital support to the surrounding environment.
Despite its historical significance, the Arden-Duck Mill Dam is facing challenges in terms of its condition assessment, which has been rated as poor. With a hazard potential classified as low and a moderate risk assessment score of 3, there is a need for improved risk management measures to ensure the safety and longevity of the dam. The dam is under state regulation and inspection, with the Department of Conservation and Recreation overseeing its operation and enforcement.
As enthusiasts of water resources and climate, the Arden-Duck Mill Dam serves as a reminder of the intricate balance between human infrastructure and environmental stewardship. With its unique design and historical background, this dam offers a glimpse into the intersection of engineering, conservation, and sustainable development in the face of changing climate patterns. It stands as a testament to the importance of responsible water management practices and the need for continuous monitoring and maintenance to protect both the dam and the surrounding ecosystem for future generations.
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 Arden-Duck Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Nashua River At Fitchburg | 111 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 167 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 95 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 28 cfs | → |
| Nashua River At East Pepperell | 559 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 97 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Arden-Duck Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Whalom Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Great Road 687, Littleton
- Harvard Road 314, Stow
- Emerson Drive Littleton
- Melendy Pond Boat Launch
- Flints Pond Boat Launch
Track Arden-Duck Mill 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 Arden-Duck Mill Dam
Where does the data for Arden-Duck Mill 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 Arden-Duck Mill Dam.