Robinson Pond Dam dam
Robinson Pond Dam
Robinson Pond Dam, located in Oxford, Massachusetts, is a private dam with a primary purpose of recreation. Built in 1838, this concrete dam stands at a height of 15 feet and has a hydraulic height of 12.1 feet. With a length of 850 feet and a storage capacity of 850 acre-feet, the dam creates a surface area of 96 acres and drains a 1.14 square mile watershed.
Despite its historical significance, the dam is currently in poor condition and has been deemed to have a significant hazard potential. The Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts regulates and inspects the dam, with the last inspection taking place in November 2017. With a risk assessment rating of moderate (3), there is a need for risk management measures to be put in place to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment in the event of a dam failure.
As a site of potential risk, Robinson Pond Dam serves as a reminder of the importance of proper maintenance and monitoring of dams, especially those with a significant hazard potential. Water resource and climate enthusiasts can appreciate the complexities involved in managing and maintaining infrastructure like Robinson Pond Dam to safeguard against potential disasters and protect the natural resources it holds back.
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 Robinson Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 161 cfs | → |
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 116 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Robinson Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Wallum Lake Road 107, Douglas
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Brialee
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Minha Casa
Fishing spots
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
Track Robinson 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 Robinson Pond Dam
Where does the data for Robinson 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 Robinson Pond Dam.