Farm Pond Dam dam
Farm Pond Dam
Farm Pond Dam in Worcester, Massachusetts, stands as a crucial water resource for the community, providing recreational opportunities while also serving as a key regulatory structure. Completed in 1900, this earth dam with a height of 8 feet and a length of 225 feet has a storage capacity of 64 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 8.3 acres. Despite its historical significance, the dam's condition assessment is poor, highlighting the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Farm Pond Dam is state-regulated and regularly inspected to ensure public safety. With a low hazard potential but moderate risk assessment, there is a pressing need for improved condition assessment and emergency preparedness planning. As climate change impacts water resources, the importance of maintaining and upgrading critical infrastructure like Farm Pond Dam becomes increasingly evident, emphasizing the interconnectedness of water resource management and climate resilience.
As enthusiasts of water resources and climate adaptation, it is crucial to monitor the condition and regulatory status of structures like Farm Pond Dam. By staying informed on its maintenance needs and risk management measures, stakeholders can advocate for sustainable practices that support both water resource conservation and climate resilience in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Farm Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| West River Below West Hill Dam | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Farm Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Minha Casa
- George Washington State Campground
- Grotonwood
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
Paddle runs
Track Farm 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 Farm Pond Dam
Where does the data for Farm 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 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 Farm Pond Dam.