Searles Pond Dam dam
Searles Pond Dam
Located in Methuen, Massachusetts, the Searles Pond Dam stands as a vital structure regulating the flow of the Spicket River. Constructed in 1979, this concrete dam serves multiple purposes, including flood control and water storage. With a height of 7.8 feet and a storage capacity of 25.8 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area.
Despite its fair condition assessment in 2014, the Searles Pond Dam poses a significant hazard potential, warranting regular inspections and maintenance. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam requires ongoing risk management measures to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The state of Massachusetts, through the Department of Conservation and Recreation, oversees the regulation, inspection, and enforcement of the dam, highlighting the importance of proper governance in safeguarding water resources and mitigating climate-related risks.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the Searles Pond Dam serves as a key asset in the region's resilience against extreme weather events. With its strategic location and vital role in water management, the dam underscores the critical need for proactive measures to address climate risks and ensure the sustainable use of water resources 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 Searles Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spicket River Near Methuen | 28 cfs | → |
| Spicket River At North Salem | 0 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 8,560 cfs | → |
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 260 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 26 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Searles Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Wolcott Avenue 57, Lawrence
- Great Pond Road 1939, North Andover
- Methuen Riverside Boat Ramp
- Ridgewood Lane Methuen
- South River Street, Haverhill
- Stanley Drive 2-4, Haverhill
Campgrounds
- Windham Town Forest Tent Platforms
- Camp Evergreen
- Salisbury State Park Reservation
- Grotonwood
- Tidewater Campground
- Remote Campsite
Paddle runs
Track Searles 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 Searles Pond Dam
Where does the data for Searles 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 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 Searles Pond Dam.