Natick Pond dam
Natick Pond
Natick Pond, located in West Warwick, Rhode Island, is a picturesque water body that serves as a critical resource for the local community. Managed by the state regulatory agency, the dam at Natick Pond stands at a height of 30.4 feet and was completed in 1886. With a storage capacity of 1100 acre-feet and a surface area of 46 acres, the pond plays a crucial role in regulating the flow of the Pawtuxet River and providing essential water supply for the region.
Despite its historical significance, Natick Pond poses a high hazard potential and has been rated as being in poor condition. The last inspection in 2017 highlighted the need for urgent maintenance and improvement measures to ensure the safety and functionality of the dam. With a maximum discharge capacity of 4700 cubic feet per second, any failure in the structure could have devastating consequences for downstream areas.
To address the risks associated with Natick Pond, it is imperative for the local government and stakeholders to prioritize the rehabilitation and maintenance of the dam. By implementing necessary upgrades and safety measures, the community can safeguard this valuable water resource for future generations and mitigate the potential impacts of climate change on the region's water infrastructure.
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 Natick Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Pawtuxet River At Cranston | 176 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 87 cfs | → |
| Hunt River Near East Greenwich | 25 cfs | → |
| Moshassuck River At Providence | 17 cfs | → |
| Nooseneck River At Nooseneck | 9 cfs | → |
| Woonasquatucket River At Centerdale | 26 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Natick Pond.
Boat launches
- Jl Curran
- Goddard Park
- Robert Avenue 1, Warwick
- Oakland Beach
- Stillhouse Cove
- Sabin Point Waterfront Park
Campgrounds
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Camp Hoffman
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Camp Watchaug (Westerly Ymca)
- 315 - Burlingham
Fishing spots
Track Natick 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 Natick Pond
Where does the data for Natick 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 Natick Pond.