Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam dam
Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam
The Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam, located in Boston, Massachusetts, was completed in 1898 and serves as a critical component of the water supply infrastructure in the area. This earth dam, standing at a height of 18.5 feet, has a primary purpose of water supply and is owned and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. With a normal storage capacity of 970 acre-feet and a total storage of 1270 acre-feet, the dam plays a significant role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its age, the Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam is in satisfactory condition according to a 2016 assessment, with a high hazard potential given its location and purpose. The dam has not undergone any significant modifications in recent years and does not have a spillway. With a drainage area of 0.22 square miles, the dam is designed to withstand high risk factors, although it is subject to biennial inspections to ensure its continued safety and functionality. The dam's emergency action plan is regularly reviewed and updated to meet guidelines and mitigate potential risks associated with its operation.
In the event of an emergency, the Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam has emergency contacts prepared and is equipped to handle any potential risks or incidents that may arise. With a high risk assessment score of 2, the dam's risk management measures are continuously evaluated to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the integrity of the water supply system. As a vital piece of infrastructure in the region, the Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in Boston.
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 Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Charles River At Wellesley | 99 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 112 cfs | → |
| Mother Brook At Dedham | 48 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Reservoir At Dam Near Waltham | 0 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Milton Village | 155 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Rt 20 At Waltham | 22 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Reid Rotary Cambridgeport
- Needham Street 511, Dedham
- Charles River Greenway Waltham
- Woerd Avenue 29-49, Waltham
- Pond Lane Arlington
- Harbor Walk Charlestown
Track Chestnut Hill 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 Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Chestnut Hill 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 Chestnut Hill Reservoir Dam.