Amelia Earhart Dam dam
Amelia Earhart Dam
Amelia Earhart Dam, located in Somerville, Massachusetts, along the Mystic River, was completed in 1965 with the primary purpose of flood risk reduction. This gravity dam stands at a height of 21.3 feet and has a NID storage capacity of 6645 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 31.5 square miles, the dam plays a crucial role in managing water flow and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding events. Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is regularly inspected and maintained to ensure its structural integrity and safety.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Amelia Earhart Dam is regulated by the state of Massachusetts and meets all state permitting, inspection, and enforcement guidelines. In addition to flood risk reduction, the dam also serves purposes such as navigation and recreation, contributing to the overall water resource management in the region. Ayanna Pressley (D) represents the area in Congress, emphasizing the importance of maintaining and safeguarding this critical infrastructure for the benefit of the community.
With a satisfactory condition assessment and a moderate risk rating, the Amelia Earhart Dam continues to play a significant role in water resource management in Middlesex County, Massachusetts. While it has a relatively low hazard potential, the dam's strategic location and design make it a key asset for flood control and environmental protection in the region. As water resource and climate enthusiasts, it is important to recognize the vital role that structures like the Amelia Earhart Dam play in promoting water security and resilience in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Amelia Earhart Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Aberjona River At Winchester | 8 cfs | → |
| Saugus R At Saugus Iron Works At Saugus | 6 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 112 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Milton Village | 155 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Wellesley | 99 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Reservoir At Dam Near Waltham | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Amelia Earhart Dam.
Boat launches
- Harbor Walk Charlestown
- Terminal Street Charlestown
- Reid Rotary Cambridgeport
- Pond Lane Arlington
- Blossom Street Extension 398, Lynn
- Nahant Ave Ramp
Track Amelia Earhart 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 Amelia Earhart Dam
Where does the data for Amelia Earhart 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 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 Amelia Earhart Dam.