Eddy Pond Dam dam
Eddy Pond Dam
Eddy Pond Dam, located in Auburn, Massachusetts, was completed in 1920 and serves as a vital recreational area for the local community. The dam, primarily made of earth with a buttress core type, stands at a height of 28.7 feet and has a hydraulic height of 26.6 feet. With a storage capacity of 1560 acre-feet, the dam regulates water from Dark Brook and Wellington Brook, creating a surface area of 116 acres for various water activities.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment, Eddy Pond Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, prompting a biennial inspection frequency to ensure its safety and structural integrity. The Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts oversees the state regulation, permitting, and inspection of the dam, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a robust emergency action plan and risk assessment to mitigate any potential threats. The dam's proximity to a populated area underscores the necessity of effective risk management measures to safeguard both the environment and the community in case of an emergency.
With its historical significance and crucial role in providing recreational opportunities, Eddy Pond Dam stands as a testament to the intersection of water resource management and climate resilience. As climate change continues to impact water systems, it is imperative to monitor and maintain structures like Eddy Pond Dam to ensure their continued functionality in the face of evolving environmental challenges. The dedication to proper regulation and risk assessment underscores the commitment to preserving this valuable water resource for future generations of enthusiasts and conservationists alike.
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 Eddy Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone River | 136 cfs | → |
| French River Below Dam | 3 cfs | → |
| Little River Near Oxford | 4 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Eddy Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- South Street 178-198, Auburn
- Oxford Road 195-253, Charlton
- Oak Island Boat Ramp
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
- Tamarack Lane 37, Shrewsbury
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- George Washington State Campground
- Minha Casa
- Brialee
- Wilderness Lake Campground
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
Track Eddy 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 Eddy Pond Dam
Where does the data for Eddy 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 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 Eddy Pond Dam.