Moose Hill Pond Dam dam
Moose Hill Pond Dam
Moose Hill Pond Dam, also known as Shaw Brook Dam, is a state-owned structure located in Spencer, Massachusetts. Constructed in 1980 by the USDA NRCS, this earth dam stands at a height of 71 feet with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. The dam serves multiple purposes including fish and wildlife habitat, recreational activities, and flood control.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Moose Hill Pond Dam is regulated and permitted by the state of Massachusetts. With a storage capacity of 2,410 acre-feet and a drainage area of 4.8 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Despite being classified as having a high hazard potential, the dam is currently in satisfactory condition and undergoes regular inspections to ensure its safety and effectiveness.
Overall, Moose Hill Pond Dam is a vital piece of infrastructure that not only contributes to flood risk reduction but also supports environmental conservation and recreational opportunities in the region. As a key component of water resource management in Worcester County, this dam highlights the importance of maintaining and regulating such structures to ensure the safety and well-being of local communities and ecosystems.
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 Moose Hill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 15 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 25 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 120 cfs | → |
| Ware River Near Barre | 79 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moose Hill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Cottage Street 2-38, West Brookfield
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Otter River State Forest
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- George Washington State 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
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Moose Hill 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 Moose Hill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Moose Hill 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 High 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 Moose Hill Pond Dam.