Lowell Reservoir Dam dam
Lowell Reservoir Dam
Lowell Reservoir Dam, located in Lowell, Massachusetts, was completed in 1872 and serves as a recreational water source with a storage capacity of 114 acre-feet. The dam stands at a height of 26 feet and spans a length of 1650 feet, offering a surface area of 5.1 acres for water activities. Despite its age, the dam is in fair condition with a high hazard potential, prompting regular inspections by the Department of Conservation and Recreation to ensure public safety.
Owned and regulated by the local government, the Lowell Reservoir Dam is designated as an Earth dam with a Buttress core type. It is situated off-stream and does not have a spillway, making its hazard potential higher in case of an emergency. The dam's purpose primarily revolves around recreational activities, with no significant modifications or enhancements reported in recent years. Despite its high risk assessment, the dam remains a popular destination for water enthusiasts in the Middlesex County area.
With its historical significance and ongoing regulatory oversight, the Lowell Reservoir Dam stands as both a recreational asset and a potential risk in the water resource management landscape. As climate change continues to impact water infrastructure, the dam's fair condition and high hazard potential highlight the need for proactive risk management measures and continued maintenance to ensure the safety of surrounding communities and preserve the dam's recreational value for future generations.
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 Lowell Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Merrimack River Bl Concord River At Lowell | 8,560 cfs | → |
| Concord R Below R Meadow Brook | 260 cfs | → |
| Shawsheen River Near Wilmington | 15 cfs | → |
| Spicket River Near Methuen | 28 cfs | → |
| Beaver Brook At North Pelham | 26 cfs | → |
| Nashoba Brook Near Acton | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lowell Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Billerica Street 5-65, Lowell
- Pawtucket Boulevard 936-970, Lowell
- Willowdale Avenue 1-53, Dracut
- Methuen Riverside Boat Ramp
- Ridgewood Lane Methuen
- Flint Pond Road, Tyngsborough
Track Lowell 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 Lowell Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Lowell 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 Lowell Reservoir Dam.