Grist Mill Dam dam
Grist Mill Dam
The Grist Mill Dam in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, is a gravity dam on Cold Spring Brook completed in 1900 for recreational purposes. It stands at a height of 10 feet with a hydraulic height of 8 feet, providing a storage capacity of 81.9 acre-feet. The dam is state-regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, with regular inspections ensuring its fair condition and low hazard potential.
Situated in Middlesex County, the Grist Mill Dam is a vital part of the local landscape, offering a serene surface area of 11.1 acres for water enthusiasts to enjoy. Despite its age, the dam continues to serve its primary purpose of recreation, attracting visitors from near and far to appreciate its historical significance and natural beauty. With a moderate risk assessment rating, the dam is closely monitored to ensure the safety of both the structure and the surrounding environment.
Managed by the local government, the Grist Mill Dam remains a beloved landmark in the area, embodying a harmonious blend of history, engineering, and natural resource management. As climate change increasingly impacts water resources, the importance of maintaining and protecting such structures becomes even more crucial. From its construction in the early 20th century to its continued operation today, the Grist Mill Dam stands as a testament to the enduring relationship between humans and water, highlighting the need for sustainable practices to preserve our precious aquatic 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 Grist Mill Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Charles River At Medway | 74 cfs | → |
| Lake Cochituate Outlet At Framingham | 25 cfs | → |
| Sudbury River At Saxonville | 112 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| West River Below West Hill Dam | 1 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Dover | 157 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Grist Mill Dam.
Boat launches
- Ashland State Park Boat Launch
- Cedar Street 154-180, Hopkinton
- West Main Street 209, Hopkinton
- Wood Street 291-299, Hopkinton
- Lakeview Avenue 98, Framingham
- Lake Street Sherborn
Track Grist Mill 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 Grist Mill Dam
Where does the data for Grist Mill 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 Grist Mill Dam.