Wheeler Pond Dam dam
Wheeler Pond Dam
Wheeler Pond Dam, located in Worcester, Massachusetts, is a privately owned structure that serves primarily for recreational purposes. The dam, of Earth type with a buttress core, stands at a height of 11 feet and has a hydraulic height of 8 feet. Situated on the North Brook, the dam has a storage capacity of 55 acre-feet, with a normal storage level of 28 acre-feet and a surface area of 0.02 acres. Despite its recreational focus, the dam poses a significant hazard potential with a poor condition assessment, prompting a moderate risk assessment rating.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, Wheeler Pond Dam is subject to state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway type and has not been modified in recent years, with its last inspection conducted in March 2017. The dam's hazard potential and condition assessment indicate a need for risk management measures to ensure the safety of the surrounding area and the individuals who utilize the recreational opportunities provided by the dam.
With its location in the town of Berlin and its association with the New England District of the US Army Corps of Engineers, Wheeler Pond Dam represents both a potential for water resource utilization and a significant concern for potential risks. Climate and water resource enthusiasts interested in the intersection of recreational infrastructure and environmental safety may find Wheeler Pond Dam to be a compelling case study for understanding the complexities of managing dams in diverse landscapes.
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 Wheeler Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Stillwater River Near Sterling | 22 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| Quinapoxet River At Canada Mills Near Holden | 27 cfs | → |
| Assabet River At Maynard | 95 cfs | → |
| North Nashua River Near Leominster | 149 cfs | → |
| Sudbury River At Saxonville | 112 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Wheeler Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Bartlett Street 152, Northborough
- Emerald Bracelet, Northborough
- Chauncy Street 19, Westborough
- Sewell Drive Shrewsbury
- Harvard Road 314, Stow
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
Track Wheeler 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 Wheeler Pond Dam
Where does the data for Wheeler 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 Wheeler Pond Dam.