Walker Pond Dam dam
Walker Pond Dam
Walker Pond Dam, located in Sturbridge, Massachusetts, is a state-regulated structure managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Built in 1957, this Earth dam serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing vital habitat for local aquatic wildlife. With a height of 8 feet and a storage capacity of 472 acre-feet, the dam plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem in the area.
Despite its importance, the dam is currently in poor condition and has a low hazard potential. It was last inspected in 2010, and its maintenance and upkeep are crucial to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and the preservation of the wildlife habitat. The dam's spillway type is uncontrolled, and it has a moderate risk assessment, indicating the need for continued monitoring and potential risk management measures to prevent any potential disasters.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Walker Pond Dam to be a fascinating structure with a rich history and important ecological significance. Its location on Hobbs Brook in Worcester County, Massachusetts, makes it a valuable asset for both recreation and wildlife conservation. However, its current poor condition and moderate risk level highlight the importance of ongoing maintenance and inspection to ensure the safety and longevity of this essential water resource.
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 Walker Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Quinebaug R Bl Westville Dam Nr Southbridge | 193 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R Bl E Brimfield Dam At Fiskdale | 119 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Quinebaug | 244 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 10 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Walker Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Clark Road Extension 303, Sturbridge
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- Cottage Street 2-38, West Brookfield
Campgrounds
- Brialee
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- George Washington State Campground
- Westover Arb Military
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
Paddle runs
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Track Walker 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 Walker Pond Dam
Where does the data for Walker 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 Walker Pond Dam.