Sucker Brook Dam dam
Sucker Brook Dam
Sucker Brook Dam, located in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, is a state-owned structure designed by the USDA NRCS for flood risk reduction along Sucker Brook. Completed in 1967, this earthen dam stands at a height of 27 feet and has a hydraulic height of 22 feet. With a storage capacity of 607 acre-feet and a drainage area of 1.5 square miles, the dam plays a critical role in managing water flow and reducing flood risks in the region.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Sucker Brook Dam serves multiple purposes, including flood risk reduction, fish and wildlife habitat enhancement, and recreational opportunities. Despite its significant hazard potential, the dam's condition assessment in 2017 rated it as satisfactory, with a moderate risk level. Regular inspections, conducted every five years, ensure the dam's safety and effectiveness in protecting the surrounding areas from potential flooding events. Overall, Sucker Brook Dam stands as a vital infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in Worcester County.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Sucker Brook Dam presents a fascinating case study of how state agencies collaborate with federal entities like the USDA NRCS to address flood risks and enhance environmental conservation efforts. The dam's design, construction, and ongoing management showcase the importance of proactive measures in mitigating potential hazards and ensuring the safety of downstream communities. As climate change continues to impact precipitation patterns and water availability, structures like Sucker Brook Dam play a crucial role in adapting to these evolving conditions and safeguarding the region's water resources for future generations.
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 Sucker Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ware River At Gibbs Crossing | 282 cfs | → |
| Sevenmile River Near Spencer | 16 cfs | → |
| Quaboag River At West Brimfield | 259 cfs | → |
| Ware River At Intake Works Near Barre | 139 cfs | → |
| Swift River At West Ware | 42 cfs | → |
| East Branch Swift River Near Hardwick | 74 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Sucker Brook Dam.
Boat launches
- Cottage Street 2-38, West Brookfield
- Walter Drive 2-98, Ware
- Hardwick Road, Hardwick
- Shore Road 83, North Brookfield
- Quaboag Street 131-199, Brookfield
- South Pond Road 143, Brookfield
Campgrounds
- Federated Womens' Club State Forest Primitive Campsite
- Westover Arb Military
- Beaman Pond Campground
- Wilderness Lake Campground
- Otter River State Forest
- East Dennison Camping Area
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 Sucker Brook 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 Sucker Brook Dam
Where does the data for Sucker Brook 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 Sucker Brook Dam.