Cordingly Dam dam
Cordingly Dam
Cordingly Dam, located in Newton, Massachusetts, is a concrete gravity dam built in 1912 along the Charles River. With a height of 11 feet and a hydraulic height of 7 feet, the dam serves as a critical flood risk reduction structure in the region. It has a storage capacity of 215 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 8 acres, with a drainage area of 217 square miles.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the dam is inspected every 5 years and has been assessed to be in fair condition with a significant hazard potential. Despite its age, the dam continues to play a vital role in protecting the surrounding area from flooding. Additionally, it also provides recreational opportunities for the community, showcasing its multifaceted importance in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
As a key piece of infrastructure along the Charles River, Cordingly Dam's role in flood risk reduction and water management cannot be understated. With its historical significance and ongoing maintenance efforts, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of proactive measures in safeguarding communities against natural disasters and ensuring the sustainable use of water resources in the face of changing climate patterns.
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 Cordingly Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Charles River At Wellesley | 99 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Reservoir At Dam Near Waltham | 0 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Rt 20 At Waltham | 22 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 112 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Dover | 154 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Bk Below Cambridge Res Nr Kendall Green | 7 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cordingly Dam.
Boat launches
- Woerd Avenue 29-49, Waltham
- Charles River Greenway Waltham
- College Road Wellesley
- Needham Street 511, Dedham
- Dudley Road 43, Wayland
- Green Way Wayland
Track Cordingly 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 Cordingly Dam
Where does the data for Cordingly 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 Cordingly Dam.