Lexington Reservoir Dam dam
Lexington Reservoir Dam
Located in Lexington, Massachusetts, the Lexington Reservoir Dam is a gravity dam built in 1900 for recreation purposes. With a height of 10.5 feet and a storage capacity of 100 acre-feet, the dam sits on a tributary of the Aberjona River, providing a surface area of 5.5 acres for outdoor activities. Despite its historical significance, the dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential and a poor condition assessment, prompting regular inspections every five years.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Lexington Reservoir Dam is regulated by the state of Massachusetts, ensuring proper inspection, enforcement, and permitting processes are in place. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, with a drainage area of 0.14 square miles. Although the risk assessment for the dam is moderate, the condition assessment indicates the need for maintenance and potential risk management measures to ensure public safety and the preservation of the recreational area surrounding the dam.
Water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the Lexington Reservoir Dam can explore its historical significance and current condition to understand the challenges and opportunities for sustainable water management in the region. With a focus on recreation, the dam serves as a vital resource for outdoor activities while also highlighting the importance of regular maintenance and risk management to ensure the safety of the surrounding community. As discussions around climate change and water resource management continue, the Lexington Reservoir Dam provides a practical example of the intersection between infrastructure, conservation, and public safety in the face of environmental challenges.
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 Lexington Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hobbs Brook At Mill St Nr Lincoln | 0 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River At Hanscom Field Near Bedford | 7 cfs | → |
| Hobbs Bk Below Cambridge Res Nr Kendall Green | 7 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 112 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Rt 20 At Waltham | 22 cfs | → |
| Aberjona River At Winchester | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lexington Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Charles River Greenway Waltham
- Pond Path, Concord
- Woerd Avenue 29-49, Waltham
- Pond Lane Arlington
- South Great Road Lincoln
- Seymour Street 1a, Concord
Track Lexington 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 Lexington Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Lexington 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 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 Lexington Reservoir Dam.