Hamilton Waste Gates dam
Hamilton Waste Gates
The Hamilton Waste Gates, located in Lowell, Massachusetts, play a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience as a federal hydroelectric structure. Built in 1848, these masonry dams stand at 12 feet high and serve multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, recreation, and fire protection. With a storage capacity of 4,500 acre-feet and a surface area of 720 acres, these gates help regulate water flow in the Upper Pawtucket Canal, providing essential support to the surrounding ecosystem.
Managed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Hamilton Waste Gates have a low hazard potential and undergo inspections every three years to ensure their structural integrity. While the condition assessment is currently not available, the risk assessment indicates a high risk level of 2. Despite this, the emergency action plan (EAP) status and inundation maps are not up to date, raising concerns about the readiness for potential emergencies. However, with the support of federal agencies and ongoing management measures, the Hamilton Waste Gates continue to play a vital role in water management and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
Overall, the Hamilton Waste Gates stand as a historic and functional piece of infrastructure in Lowell, Massachusetts, supporting various water resource management objectives. As a federal hydroelectric structure, these gates exemplify the intersection of water management, climate resilience, and recreational opportunities. With ongoing monitoring and management efforts by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Hamilton Waste Gates remain a critical component in the region's water infrastructure, contributing to flood protection, ecosystem support, and hydroelectric power generation.
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 Hamilton Waste Gates -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 311 cfs | → |
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 11,800 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 21 cfs | → |
| Spicket River Near Methuen | 25 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 35 cfs | → |
| Nashoba Brook Near Acton | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hamilton Waste Gates .
Boat launches
- Billerica Street 5-65, Lowell
- Pawtucket Boulevard 936-970, Lowell
- Willowdale Avenue 1-53, Dracut
- Flint Pond Road, Tyngsborough
- Farm Road, Billerica
- Methuen Riverside Boat Ramp
Track Hamilton Waste Gates 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 Hamilton Waste Gates
Where does the data for Hamilton Waste Gates 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 Low 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 Hamilton Waste Gates .