Cranston Print Works Pond dam
Cranston Print Works Pond
Cranston Print Works Pond, located in Cranston, Rhode Island, is a historic masonry dam completed in 1825 on the Pocasset River. This private water resource is regulated by the State of Rhode Island and has a high hazard potential, although its condition was assessed as fair as of May 2018. The dam stands at a height of 17 feet, with a hydraulic height of 14 feet, and a length of 350 feet, creating a storage capacity of 255 acre-feet.
The pond serves purposes beyond just water storage, with a surface area of 25 acres and a drainage area of 18 acres. Despite its age, Cranston Print Works Pond continues to play a vital role in water resource management in the area, with a normal storage capacity of 180 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1715 cubic feet per second. The dam is inspected every 2 years, with the last assessment conducted in March 2017, ensuring its continued safety and functionality for the surrounding community.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Cranston Print Works Pond offers a glimpse into the intersection of history, infrastructure, and environmental stewardship. As a significant piece of New England's water management system, this iconic masonry dam stands as a testament to the engineering prowess of the past and the ongoing importance of maintaining our water resources in the face of a changing climate. From its construction in the early 19th century to its continued role in providing water storage and flood control today, Cranston Print Works Pond is a symbol of the enduring connection between human civilization and the natural world.
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 Cranston Print Works Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pawtuxet River At Cranston | 170 cfs | → |
| Moshassuck River At Providence | 15 cfs | → |
| Woonasquatucket River At Centerdale | 25 cfs | → |
| Ten Mile River At Pawtucket Ave @ E Providence | 49 cfs | → |
| Blackstone R At Roosevelt St At Pawtucket Ri | 520 cfs | → |
| Peeptoad Brook At Elmdale Rd Nr North Scituate | 1 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Cranston Print Works Pond.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Camp Hoffman
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Camp Christina Entrance
Fishing spots
Track Cranston Print Works Pond 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 Cranston Print Works Pond
Where does the data for Cranston Print Works Pond 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 Cranston Print Works Pond.