Worcester Diversion Levee System dam
Worcester Diversion Levee System
The Worcester Diversion Levee System, located in Auburn, Massachusetts, serves as a critical infrastructure for managing water resources in the area. Built in 1960, this concrete dam on Kettle Brook has a height of 20 feet and a storage capacity of 1,090 acre-feet. With a significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the levee system is inspected every five years to ensure its satisfactory condition and efficient operation.
Owned and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Worcester Diversion Levee System plays a crucial role in flood control and water management in Worcester County. With a drainage area of 30.1 square miles, the dam provides essential protection to surrounding communities by controlling water levels and preventing potential flooding events. Its uncontrolled spillway and buttress core type contribute to its effective performance in handling water flow during peak discharge periods.
As a key structure in the New England District, the Worcester Diversion Levee System stands as a testament to the ongoing efforts to safeguard water resources and mitigate the impacts of climate change in the region. With its strategic location and operational efficiency, this dam serves as a vital asset for local government authorities in their commitment to ensuring the long-term sustainability of water resources and environmental resilience in Worcester, 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 Worcester Diversion Levee System -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone River | 91 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 12 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 10 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Worcester Diversion Levee System.
Boat launches
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- George Washington State Campground
- Minha Casa
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Brialee
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 Worcester Diversion Levee System 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 Worcester Diversion Levee System
Where does the data for Worcester Diversion Levee System 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 Worcester Diversion Levee System.