Hilchey Pond Dam dam
Hilchey Pond Dam
Hilchey Pond Dam, located in Gardner, Massachusetts, is a private dam regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This concrete buttress dam on Bailey Brook stands at 11 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 8.65 feet, with a storage capacity of 45 acre-feet. The dam serves a primary purpose classified as 'Other' and is considered to have poor condition assessment with a significant hazard potential.
Despite its modest size, Hilchey Pond Dam plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the area. With a drainage area of 3.16 square miles and a normal storage capacity of 22.5 acre-feet, the dam helps control the flow of water and provides essential flood protection. However, its poor condition assessment and significant hazard potential highlight the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of the structure.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and infrastructure, the risk assessment for Hilchey Pond Dam rates it as moderate. With the potential for increased extreme weather events and flooding, it is essential for the responsible authorities to implement effective risk management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment from any potential dangers posed by the dam.
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 Hilchey Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Otter River At Otter River | 105 cfs | → |
| Birch Hill Reservoir At South Royalston | 30 cfs | → |
| Millers River At South Royalston | 39 cfs | → |
| Millers River Near Winchendon | 121 cfs | → |
| Priest Brook Near Winchendon | 33 cfs | → |
| East Branch Tully River Near Athol | 5 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Hilchey Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- River Road Royalston
- Doane Hill Road Royalston
- Main Street 2010, Athol
- North Orange Road 52-534, Athol
- Laurel Lake Boat Launch
- Grassy Pond Boat Launch
Campgrounds
- Otter River State Forest
- Beaman Pond Campground
- East Dennison Camping Area
- Lake Dennison State Park
- North Dennison Camping Area
- Tully Lake
Track Hilchey 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 Hilchey Pond Dam
Where does the data for Hilchey 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 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 Hilchey Pond Dam.