Townsend Harbor Dam dam
Townsend Harbor Dam
The Townsend Harbor Dam, located on the Squannacook River in Townsend, Massachusetts, was completed in 1870 and serves primarily for recreation and water supply purposes. The dam, with a height of 11 feet and a hydraulic height of 7.5 feet, has a significant hazard potential but is currently in satisfactory condition according to a 2016 assessment. The dam has a storage capacity of 273 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 116 acre-feet, covering a surface area of 0.06 square miles with a drainage area of 60.6 square miles.
Managed by a private entity, the Townsend Harbor Dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts. It is a rockfill dam type with a gravity and buttress structure, providing critical water supply and recreational opportunities in the area. The dam's spillway is of the uncontrolled type, with a width of 0 feet, and it has no associated locks or outlet gates. The risk assessment for the dam is moderate, and inspections are conducted every 5 years to ensure its safety and compliance with regulations.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the historical significance and functional importance of the Townsend Harbor Dam in managing water resources and providing recreational activities along the Squannacook River. With its long history dating back to the 19th century, the dam continues to play a crucial role in supporting local communities and maintaining the ecological balance of the region. Its presence underscores the delicate balance between water management, environmental conservation, and recreational enjoyment in the face of changing climate patterns and increasing water demands.
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 Townsend Harbor Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Squannacook River Near West Groton | 83 cfs | → |
| Nashua River At East Pepperell | 531 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River At Fitchburg | 101 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 149 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River (Site Wlr-1) Near Milford | 181 cfs | → |
| Souhegan River At Merrimack | 256 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Townsend Harbor Dam.
Boat launches
- Whalom Lake Public Boat Ramp
- Melendy Pond Boat Launch
- Flints Pond Boat Launch
- Winchester Street Boat Launch
- Great Road 687, Littleton
- Flint Pond Road, Tyngsborough
Campgrounds
- Pearl Hill Campground
- Damon Pond Campground
- Grotonwood
- Otter River State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- East Dennison Camping Area
Paddle runs
Track Townsend Harbor 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 Townsend Harbor Dam
Where does the data for Townsend Harbor 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 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 Townsend Harbor Dam.