Colburn St. Dam dam
Colburn St. Dam
Located in Dedham, Massachusetts, the Colburn St. Dam stands as a vital structure on the Mother Brook, serving as a popular spot for recreational activities. Managed by the local government, this dam is regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, ensuring its safety and compliance with state regulations. With a significant hazard potential and moderate risk assessment, the dam has a satisfactory condition assessment and is inspected every five years to maintain its functionality and safety.
With a height of 10.5 feet and a hydraulic height of 13 feet, the Colburn St. Dam has a storage capacity of 30 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 6 acres. The uncontrolled spillway type and buttress core type contribute to its unique design and functionality. Despite its age and lack of completion year data, the dam continues to provide valuable recreational opportunities and support the local ecosystem along the Mother Brook.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find the Colburn St. Dam to be an intriguing subject, with its blend of historical significance, regulatory oversight, and environmental impact. As a key structure in Dedham, Massachusetts, this dam plays a crucial role in water management, flood control, and recreational enjoyment for the community, highlighting the intersection of human infrastructure and natural resources in the face of climate change.
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 Colburn St. Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Mother Brook At Dedham | 48 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Greenlodge St Near Canton | 76 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Milton Village | 155 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Dover | 154 cfs | → |
| Neponset River At Norwood | 15 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Wellesley | 99 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Colburn St. Dam.
Boat launches
- Providence Highway 267, Dedham
- Ames Street Dedham
- Needham Street 511, Dedham
- Reid Rotary Cambridgeport
- Town Street 128, Braintree
- College Road Wellesley
Track Colburn St. 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 Colburn St. Dam
Where does the data for Colburn St. 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 Colburn St. Dam.