Metro Circ Dam dam
Metro Circ Dam
Metro Circ Dam, located at Hemlock Gorge Spillway in Newton, Massachusetts, is a state-regulated concrete dam along the Charles River with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Standing at a height of 15 feet with a hydraulic height of 9.5 feet, this dam plays a crucial role in managing water levels and protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding. With a storage capacity of 29 acre-feet, the dam also serves recreational purposes in addition to its flood control functions.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Metro Circ Dam has a significant hazard potential and is inspected every five years to ensure its structural integrity and safety. Despite its age and moderate risk level, the dam has been deemed to be in satisfactory condition as of the last inspection date in November 2012. With a drainage area of 211 square miles, the dam plays a vital role in water resource management in the region and helps mitigate the risk of downstream flooding during periods of heavy rainfall.
While Metro Circ Dam has an uncontrolled spillway type and a spillway width of 0 feet, it continues to effectively reduce flood risks and provide recreational opportunities for the community. With its buttress core type and gravity design, the dam stands as a testament to engineering excellence in managing water resources and climate-related challenges in the region. As climate change continues to impact water systems, this dam serves as a critical infrastructure for both flood control and environmental conservation efforts in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
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 Metro Circ Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Charles River At Wellesley | 99 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook Reservoir At Dam Near Waltham | 0 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Waltham | 112 cfs | → |
| Stony Brook At Rt 20 At Waltham | 22 cfs | → |
| Charles River At Dover | 154 cfs | → |
| Mother Brook At Dedham | 48 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Metro Circ Dam.
Boat launches
- Woerd Avenue 29-49, Waltham
- Needham Street 511, Dedham
- Charles River Greenway Waltham
- College Road Wellesley
- Providence Highway 267, Dedham
- Ames Street Dedham
Track Metro Circ 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 Metro Circ Dam
Where does the data for Metro Circ 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 Metro Circ Dam.