Gavco Pond Dam dam
Gavco Pond Dam
Gavco Pond Dam, located in Petersham, Massachusetts, is a state-regulated earth dam with a primary purpose other than flood control. Built in 1975, this dam stands at a height of 21.8 feet and has a hydraulic height of 12.2 feet. It has a storage capacity of 132.6 acre-feet and serves as a tributary of West Branch Fever Brook. The dam has a low hazard potential and an unsatisfactory condition assessment as of its last inspection in 2009.
While Gavco Pond Dam may not be a high-risk structure, its moderate risk assessment indicates the need for ongoing monitoring and maintenance. The dam is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, which ensures that it is inspected, permitted, and enforced upon regularly. Despite its low hazard potential, the condition assessment and risk management measures for the dam should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure the safety and integrity of this important water resource.
As a key infrastructure for water resource management in Worcester County, Gavco Pond Dam plays a crucial role in regulating water flow and storage in the region. With a drainage area of 0.56 square miles and a storage capacity of 132.6 acre-feet, this dam serves as a vital component of the local ecosystem. While it has not undergone significant modifications in recent years, ongoing monitoring and maintenance efforts are essential to ensure the long-term resilience and safety of this important water structure.
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 Gavco Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Swift River Near Hardwick | 106 cfs | → |
| West Branch Swift River Near Shutesbury | 20 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 223 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Gavco Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Regulating Dam Road, New Salem
- Main Street 2010, Athol
- North Orange Road 52-534, Athol
- Dana Road, Petersham
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
- River Road Royalston
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Tully Lake
- Erving State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Otter River State Forest
- North Dennison Camping Area
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Headwaters To Confluence With West River (End Of Sherman Road)
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- First Bridge Upstream On Route 100 To Confluence With West River
- Headwaters To First Bridge Upstream On Route 100
Track Gavco Pond 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 Gavco Pond Dam
Where does the data for Gavco Pond 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 Gavco Pond Dam.