Calkins Pond Upper Dam dam
Calkins Pond Upper Dam
Calkins Pond Upper Dam in Hampden, Massachusetts, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This dam, located in Monson and part of a tributary of Chicopee Brook, serves a primary purpose of "Other" with a storage capacity of 35 acre-feet. The dam, with a height of 25 feet and a hydraulic height of 19 feet, has a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition, as assessed in May 2017.
The dam, constructed with a buttress core type and an unlisted/unknown foundation, has a surface area of 6 acres and a normal storage capacity of 21 acre-feet. With an uncontrolled spillway type and no locks or outlets, the structure poses a moderate risk (3) and undergoes inspections every five years. Despite its satisfactory condition, the dam's risk management measures, emergency action plans, and inundation maps are not clearly outlined in the available data.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Calkins Pond Upper Dam's design and regulatory oversight may find this structure intriguing for its unique characteristics and risk profile. The dam, nestled in a picturesque location in Massachusetts, stands as a vital component of the local water infrastructure, highlighting the importance of proper maintenance and emergency preparedness in the face of changing climate conditions and potential hazards.
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 Calkins Pond Upper Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quaboag River At West Brimfield | 238 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 85 cfs | → |
| Chicopee River At Indian Orchard | 890 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Gibbs Crossing | 232 cfs | → |
| Swift River At West Ware | 43 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 142 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Calkins Pond Upper Dam.
Boat launches
- Red Bridge Road 16, Wilbraham
- Wilbur Cross Highway Union
- Water Street 266-334, Springfield
- Clark Road Extension 303, Sturbridge
- Bigelow Pond
- South End Bridge Agawam
Campgrounds
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Westover Arb Military
- Brialee
- Primitve Camping Area
- Beech Grove 5
- Koa Weathampton
Fishing spots
- Lake Washington Fishing Area
- Trout Hatchery
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Baker Cove
- Twotree Island Channel
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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Track Calkins Pond Upper 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 Calkins Pond Upper Dam
Where does the data for Calkins Pond Upper 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 Calkins Pond Upper Dam.