Taft Pond Dam dam
Taft Pond Dam
Located in Upton, Massachusetts, the Taft Pond Dam is a gravity type structure built in the year 1900 with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam stands at a height of 13 feet and has a hydraulic height of 10 feet, providing a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet. It regulates the flow of Taft Brook and is under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts.
Despite being classified as having a low hazard potential, the Taft Pond Dam is in poor condition as of its last inspection in 2008. With a risk assessment rating of moderate, there are concerns regarding its structural integrity and the potential threat it poses to the surrounding area. The dam lacks an emergency action plan and has not been updated to meet current guidelines, raising further concerns about its ability to respond to unforeseen events.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, the Taft Pond Dam serves as both a recreational site and a cautionary tale of the importance of proper maintenance and risk management measures for aging infrastructure. As the dam continues to age, there is a growing need for investment and attention to ensure its safety and longevity, while also protecting the natural ecosystem of Taft Brook and the surrounding area.
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 Taft Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West River Below West Hill Dam | 1 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Northbridge | 1,000 cfs | → |
| Quinsigamond River At North Grafton | 15 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River | 113 cfs | → |
| Branch River At Forestdale | 60 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Woonsocket | 433 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Taft Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- West Main Street 209, Hopkinton
- Brigham Hill Road Grafton
- Wood Street 291-299, Hopkinton
- Cedar Street 154-180, Hopkinton
- Ashland State Park Boat Launch
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
Track Taft 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 Taft Pond Dam
Where does the data for Taft 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 Taft Pond Dam.