Marble Pond Dam dam
Marble Pond Dam
Marble Pond Dam in Worcester, Massachusetts, stands as a gravity dam along the South Branch of Souhegan River, completed in 1985 primarily for recreational purposes. Owned privately, the dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, ensuring state jurisdiction and permitting. With a height of 10 feet and a storage capacity of 70.4 acre-feet, the dam boasts a low hazard potential, fair condition assessment, and a moderate risk level.
Despite its modest size, Marble Pond Dam plays a crucial role in providing recreational opportunities and regulating water flow along the river. The dam's design includes earth and gravity components with a buttress core type, offering stability and resilience to potential hydraulic impacts. Maintained and inspected by state authorities, the dam remains in a fair condition as of its last assessment in 2009, ensuring its continued safe operation for both recreation and environmental conservation purposes.
As a key feature in the Ashburnham area, Marble Pond Dam contributes to the local landscape and water resource management efforts. Its low hazard potential and moderate risk level indicate a manageable level of risk, supported by regular inspections and a fair condition assessment. With its completion in 1985, the dam continues to serve as a testament to responsible infrastructure development in balancing human needs with environmental preservation in the region.
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 Marble Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| North Nashua River At Fitchburg | 111 cfs | → |
| Otter River At Otter River | 97 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 173 cfs | → |
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 95 cfs | → |
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 38 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Marble Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
- Whalom Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Pool Pond Boat Launch
- Contoocook Lake Boat Launch
- River Road Royalston
- Cunningham Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Damon Pond Campground
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Lake Dennison State Park
- East Dennison Camping Area
- Otter River State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
Track Marble 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 Marble Pond Dam
Where does the data for Marble 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 Marble Pond Dam.