Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam dam
Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam
Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam, located in North Andover, Massachusetts, is a historic masonry dam completed in 1865 for water supply purposes. With a height of 13.4 feet and a hydraulic height of 10 feet, the dam has a storage capacity of 8,100 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 575 acres. Despite its age, the dam is in satisfactory condition and is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts.
The dam poses a high hazard potential due to its location on Cochichewick Brook and its significant storage capacity. While there is no spillway, the dam's condition is regularly assessed, with inspections conducted every two years to ensure its structural integrity. The hazard potential and risk assessment are rated as high, indicating the need for proper risk management measures to be in place.
Even though the dam has not been modified in recent years, its high hazard potential underscores the importance of emergency preparedness and communication with local authorities. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the critical role of structures like Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam in managing water supply and mitigating risks is essential for sustainable water resource management 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 Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Spicket River Near Methuen | 28 cfs | → |
| Parker River At Byfield | 19 cfs | → |
| Ipswich River At South Middleton | 16 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 15 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 8,560 cfs | → |
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 260 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam.
Boat launches
- Great Pond Road 1939, North Andover
- Wolcott Avenue 57, Lawrence
- Stiles Pond Road 4.0, Boxford
- Methuen Riverside Boat Ramp
- Woods Road Andover
- West Main Street 206, Georgetown
Track Lake Cochichewick Outlet 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 Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam
Where does the data for Lake Cochichewick Outlet 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 Lake Cochichewick Outlet Dam.