Stiles Reservoir Dam dam
Stiles Reservoir Dam
Stiles Reservoir Dam, located in Leicester, Massachusetts, is a vital structure for fire protection, stock, and small fish pond purposes. Completed in 1865, this earth dam stands at a height of 29 feet and has a storage capacity of 3100 acre-feet, with a maximum storage of 3100 acre-feet and a normal storage of 2700 acre-feet. The dam spans 500 feet and covers a surface area of 325 acres, serving as a key resource in the region.
Managed by the local government and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Stiles Reservoir Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently assessed as satisfactory in condition. Inspected every two years, the dam features an uncontrolled spillway and is situated on Bartons Brook. Despite its moderate risk assessment, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Worcester County, serving as a valuable asset for both recreational and emergency purposes.
With its historical significance dating back over a century, Stiles Reservoir Dam continues to be a focal point in the region's water infrastructure. Situated in a picturesque location, the dam not only provides essential fire protection and stock storage but also offers recreational opportunities. As climate change impacts increase, this structure remains a critical component in managing water resources and ensuring the safety and well-being of the local community, highlighting the importance of ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts to sustain its functionality for generations to come.
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 Stiles Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 15 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 113 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 142 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Stiles Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Overlook Drive 16-18, Spencer
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
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
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Stiles 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 Stiles Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Stiles 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 Stiles Reservoir Dam.