Glen Echo Lake Dam dam
Glen Echo Lake Dam
Glen Echo Lake Dam, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, was completed in 1956 and serves as a vital recreational resource for the local community. The dam, primarily owned and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, stands at a height of 30 feet and has a hydraulic height of 22.8 feet. It is classified as an Earth dam with a Buttress core type, providing a maximum storage capacity of 1640 acre-feet and a normal storage capacity of 820 acre-feet.
The dam, situated on Pratt Brook, features an uncontrolled spillway type and covers a surface area of 125 acres within a drainage area of 2.9 square miles. Despite being rated with a high hazard potential, the dam's condition is assessed as fair, with a moderate risk level. Regular inspections are conducted, with the last assessment taking place in March 2018. While there are no associated structures or locks, the dam remains an essential component for water resource management and flood control in the region.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts visiting Glen Echo Lake Dam will appreciate its historical significance and the efforts made to ensure its safety and functionality for recreational purposes. The dam's location in Charlton, along with its impressive storage capacity and scenic surroundings, make it a valuable asset for the local community. With ongoing risk assessments and inspections, Glen Echo Lake Dam continues to play a crucial role in water management and conservation efforts in the area.
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 Glen Echo Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 142 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 85 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 15 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Glen Echo Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- Clark Road Extension 303, Sturbridge
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
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
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Track Glen Echo Lake 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 Glen Echo Lake Dam
Where does the data for Glen Echo Lake 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 High 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 Glen Echo Lake Dam.