Mill Pond Dam dam
Mill Pond Dam
Mill Pond Dam, located in Falmouth, Massachusetts, is a privately owned earth dam that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Built in 1930, the dam stands at 9 feet tall and spans 375 feet in length, with a storage capacity of 88 acre-feet. It regulates the flow of the Backus Brook and Green River, encompassing a drainage area of 1.9 square miles. Despite its significant hazard potential and poor condition assessment, the dam is inspected every five years by the Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a hydraulic height of 8.5 feet and a surface area of 15 acres. It is regulated by the state jurisdiction and permitting agency, ensuring compliance with safety standards and enforcement measures. The risk assessment for Mill Pond Dam is rated as moderate, signaling the need for risk management measures. As climate enthusiasts, it is essential to monitor the condition of this dam to protect water resources and mitigate potential environmental risks in the region.
With its association with the New England District of the US Army Corps of Engineers and the oversight of Congressman William R. Keating, Mill Pond Dam represents a critical infrastructure for water resource management in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the significance of this dam and advocating for its maintenance and improvement is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of the surrounding ecosystem. By staying informed about the dam's condition, inspection frequency, and risk assessment, enthusiasts can contribute to the preservation of water resources and the mitigation of potential climate-related challenges in the region.
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 Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quashnet River At Waquoit Village | 15 cfs | → |
| Paskamanset River Near South Dartmouth | 5 cfs | → |
| Herring River At North Harwich | 9 cfs | → |
| Jones River At Kingston | 10 cfs | → |
| Taunton River Near Bridgewater | 124 cfs | → |
| Segreganset River Near Dighton | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Mill Pond Dam.
Track Mill 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 Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Mill 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 Mill Pond Dam.