Snow Pond Dam dam
Snow Pond Dam
Snow Pond Dam, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, with a height of 10 feet and a hydraulic height of 9 feet, provides a storage capacity of 146 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 19 acres. While the dam has a low hazard potential and is currently assessed to be in fair condition, it is regulated and inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts to ensure its safety and compliance with state regulations.
Despite its relatively low hazard potential, Snow Pond Dam is subject to moderate risk, with a risk assessment rating of 3. The dam features an uncontrolled spillway type and is associated with a drainage area of 0.52 square miles. The structure has not been modified in recent years, with its last inspection conducted in January 2017. While the dam has not experienced any significant issues, it is important for water resource and climate enthusiasts to monitor its condition and ensure that appropriate risk management measures are in place to mitigate any potential hazards.
Overall, Snow Pond Dam represents an important recreational asset in Princeton, Massachusetts, providing storage capacity for water activities and enhancing the natural landscape of the area. With its controlled management and regular inspections, the dam continues to serve its purpose effectively while maintaining a safe environment for visitors and nearby residents. As climate change and water resource management become increasingly important topics, monitoring structures like Snow Pond Dam is essential to ensure the sustainability and safety of our water infrastructure.
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 Snow Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 16 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 25 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 114 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River At Fitchburg | 75 cfs | → |
| Ware River Near Barre | 79 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Snow Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Whalom Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
- Bartlett Street 152, Northborough
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
Track Snow 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 Snow Pond Dam
Where does the data for Snow 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 Snow Pond Dam.