Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam dam
Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam
The Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam in Worcester, Massachusetts, serves as a crucial water supply structure for the area, with a storage capacity of 3,850 acre-feet and a surface area of 180 acres. The dam, of earth and buttress core type, stands at a height of 8 feet with a hydraulic height of 2 feet. Despite its relatively small size, the dam plays a significant role in regulating the water flow of the man-made channel leading to Holden #7.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam is subject to state regulation, inspection, and enforcement to ensure its safe operation. The last inspection in October 2015 rated the dam's condition as satisfactory, with a significant hazard potential due to its location and purpose. With an inspection frequency of 5 years, the dam is monitored closely to mitigate risks and maintain its functionality for water supply purposes.
The Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam represents a critical infrastructure component in the local water supply system, with a high-risk assessment rating due to its significant hazard potential. As a key element in water management for the area, it highlights the importance of sustainable and efficient resource utilization in the face of changing climate patterns. Enthusiasts of water resources and climate resilience can appreciate the role of this dam in ensuring water security for the community while navigating potential risks associated with its operation.
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 Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 27 cfs | → |
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 22 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 16 cfs | → |
| Ware River Near Barre | 91 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 139 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam.
Boat launches
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Otter River State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
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
Track Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin 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 Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam
Where does the data for Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin 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 Kendall Reservoir Lower Basin Dam.