Goldthwaite Brook Dam dam
Goldthwaite Brook Dam
Goldthwaite Brook Dam in Essex, Massachusetts, is a privately owned structure regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. The dam, located in Peabody, serves as a water supply source with a primary purpose of water supply. It is an earth dam with a buttress core type, standing at a height of 8 feet and holding a storage capacity of 56.1 acre-feet. The dam has a low hazard potential and was last assessed to be in fair condition in 2009.
Despite its moderate risk assessment rating, Goldthwaite Brook Dam has been inspected regularly, with the last inspection conducted in 2009. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a surface area of 0.02 square miles and a drainage area of 5.1 square miles. The structure has a history of meeting regulatory requirements and is equipped with emergency action plans, although details on their preparation and updates are not readily available. Overall, Goldthwaite Brook Dam stands as a vital water resource infrastructure within the area, ensuring a stable water supply while maintaining a fair condition and low hazard potential.
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 Goldthwaite Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Saugus R At Saugus Iron Works At Saugus | 8 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River At South Middleton | 16 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River Near Ipswich | 111 cfs | → |
| Aberjona River At Winchester | 8 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 15 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Goldthwaite Brook Dam.
Boat launches
- Nahant Ave Ramp
- Blossom Street Extension 398, Lynn
- Chebacco Road 340, Hamilton
- Ipswich Road Topsfield
- Boxford Road 41-43, Ipswich
- Terminal Street Charlestown
Track Goldthwaite Brook 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 Goldthwaite Brook Dam
Where does the data for Goldthwaite Brook 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 Goldthwaite Brook Dam.