Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam dam
Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam
The Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam, located in Franklin County, Massachusetts, was completed in 1902 and serves multiple purposes including fire protection and providing a small fish pond for the local community. The dam, primarily made of concrete with a buttress core type, stands at 15 feet high with a hydraulic height of 14 feet. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 3 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 0.28 acres, with a drainage area of 0.34 acres. The dam is regulated and inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts.
Despite being rated as having a significant hazard potential, the Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam is currently in fair condition, based on a 2012 assessment. The dam has an inspection frequency of 5 years and is in a moderate risk category with a risk rating of 3. While the dam does not have an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) in place, it meets state regulatory requirements for inspection, enforcement, and permitting. The dam does not have a spillway, indicating an uncontrolled release of water in case of overflow.
The Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam, nestled in the town of Colrain, plays a crucial role in providing emergency water supply and recreational opportunities for the local community. With its historical significance and important functions, the dam continues to be a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management and maintenance of dams in Massachusetts.
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 Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North River At Shattuckville | 92 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Colrain | 57 cfs | → |
| Connecticut River At Montague City | 28,600 cfs | → |
| South River Near Conway | 23 cfs | → |
| Deerfield River At Charlemont | 289 cfs | → |
| Deerfield River Near West Deerfield | 471 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Connecticut River Boat Launch
- Lake Raponda Road Wilmington
- Fairview Avenue 298, Wilmington
- Kellogg Hill Road, Hatfield
- Spofford Lake Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Barton Cove
- Fort Dummer State Park
- Mohawk Trail State Forest
- Molly Stark State Park
- Molly Stark State Park Campsites
- Richardson-Zlogar Cabin
Track Colrain Lower Reservoir 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 Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Colrain Lower Reservoir 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 Colrain Lower Reservoir Dam.