Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam dam
Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam
Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam, located in Braintree, Massachusetts, serves as a crucial water supply source for the local community. Completed in 1942, this earth dam stands at a height of 18 feet and has a hydraulic height of 14.5 feet. With a storage capacity of 2283 acre-feet and a normal storage level of 1855 acre-feet, the dam spans a length of 2775 feet and covers a surface area of 172 acres.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam is subject to state regulations, inspections, and enforcement measures to ensure its safety and integrity. The dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, although its condition is assessed as fair as of the last inspection in October 2015. Despite the moderate risk level, the dam continues to play a critical role in providing reliable water resources to the surrounding area.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts will appreciate the significance of the Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam in maintaining water supply stability in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. With its strategic location on the Norroway Brook and close oversight by state regulatory agencies, this dam represents a vital infrastructure asset that requires ongoing monitoring and risk management to safeguard its operations and protect the local community from potential hazards.
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 Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Old Swamp River Near South Weymouth | 3 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Milton Village | 155 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Greenlodge St Near Canton | 76 cfs | → |
| Whitmans Pond | 7 cfs | → |
| Whitmans Pond Fish Ladder At East Weymouth | 3 cfs | → |
| East Branch Neponset River At Canton | 19 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Town Street 128, Braintree
- Randolph Street 315, Weymouth
- Commercial Street Weymouth
- Providence Highway 267, Dedham
- Ames Street Dedham
- Ship Street Hingham
Track Great Pond Upper Reservoir 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 Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Great Pond Upper Reservoir 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 Great Pond Upper Reservoir Dam.