Carpenter Reservoir Dam dam
Carpenter Reservoir Dam
Carpenter Reservoir Dam, located in Northbridge, Massachusetts, is a concrete dam constructed in 1888 primarily for water supply purposes. With a height of 32 feet and a hydraulic height of 28 feet, the dam holds a storage capacity of 2640 acre-feet, serving as a crucial resource for water management in the region. The dam spans 260 feet in length and covers a surface area of 82 acres, with a drainage area of 5.44 square miles.
Managed by a private entity, Carpenter Reservoir Dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts. The dam is inspected every five years, with the last assessment conducted in December 2016, revealing a satisfactory condition. Despite being categorized as having a significant hazard potential, the risk assessment for the dam is moderate with appropriate risk management measures in place. As a key infrastructure for water supply in the area, the Carpenter Reservoir Dam plays a vital role in ensuring water resource sustainability and climate resilience for the community.
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 Carpenter Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| West River Below West Hill Dam | 1 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Nipmuc River Near Harrisville | 17 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Carpenter Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Wallum Lake Road 107, Douglas
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- West Main Street 209, Hopkinton
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- George Washington State Campground
- Minha Casa
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Brialee
Paddle runs
Track Carpenter 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 Carpenter Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Carpenter 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 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 Carpenter Reservoir Dam.