Cushing Pond Dam dam
Cushing Pond Dam
Cushing Pond Dam, located in Hingham, Massachusetts, is a private concrete structure built in 1956 with the primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 10 feet and has a hydraulic height of 8 feet, providing a storage capacity of 104 acre-feet. With a normal storage level of 94.6 acre-feet and a surface area of 18.92 acres, the dam plays a significant role in managing the water resources of the Crooked Meadow River.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Cushing Pond Dam is regulated, inspected, and enforced by the state to ensure its safety and functionality. Although the dam has a satisfactory condition assessment and a moderate hazard potential, regular inspections every five years help to mitigate risks and ensure proper maintenance. With its uncontrolled spillway type and a drainage area of 3.39 square miles, the dam serves as a crucial element in the local water management system, providing both recreational opportunities and water resource protection for the surrounding area.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cushing Pond Dam represents a blend of engineering excellence and natural beauty. Its design and construction reflect a balance between recreational use and environmental conservation, showcasing the importance of sustainable water infrastructure in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. As a state-regulated structure with a significant role in managing the Crooked Meadow River, the dam serves as a focal point for ongoing efforts to protect and preserve water resources in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
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 Cushing Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Whitmans Pond Fish Ladder At East Weymouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Whitmans Pond | 7 cfs | → |
| Old Swamp River Near South Weymouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Indian Head River At Hanover | 23 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Milton Village | 155 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Greenlodge St Near Canton | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cushing Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Ship Street Hingham
- Gonzo Hingham
- Commercial Street Weymouth
- Randolph Street 315, Weymouth
- Town Street 128, Braintree
- Bridge Street Norwell
Track Cushing 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 Cushing Pond Dam
Where does the data for Cushing 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 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 Cushing Pond Dam.