Crompton Lower dam
Crompton Lower
Crompton Lower, located in Kent, Rhode Island, is a private dam on the Pawtuxet River-South Branch with a history dating back to 1885. This masonry, gravity, and earth dam stands at 12 feet tall and stretches 350 feet in length, providing a storage capacity of 182 acre-feet. With a drainage area of 72 square miles and a maximum discharge of 4090 cubic feet per second, this structure plays a crucial role in managing water resources in the region.
Despite its low hazard potential, the dam is currently in poor condition as of the last assessment in May 2018. The inspection frequency is listed as zero, indicating a potential need for more regular monitoring and maintenance. While the dam's primary purpose is categorized as "Other," its significance in water resource management for the area cannot be understated. With a surface area of 20 acres and a normal storage capacity of 122 acre-feet, Crompton Lower serves as an essential piece of infrastructure for the local community.
As water resource and climate enthusiasts, understanding the condition and functionality of dams like Crompton Lower is paramount in ensuring the sustainable management of water systems. With its unique design and historical significance, this dam on the Pawtuxet River-South Branch stands as a testament to the intricate balance between human intervention and natural forces in shaping our water resources. It is essential to prioritize regular inspections, maintenance, and potential risk management measures to preserve the integrity and functionality of structures like Crompton Lower 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 Crompton Lower -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 87 cfs | → |
| Hunt River Near East Greenwich | 22 cfs | → |
| Pawtuxet River At Cranston | 173 cfs | → |
| Nooseneck River At Nooseneck | 9 cfs | → |
| Queen R At Liberty Rd At Liberty Ri | 15 cfs | → |
| Moshassuck River At Providence | 16 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Crompton Lower.
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
- Camp Watchaug (Westerly Ymca)
- 315 - Burlingham
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
Fishing spots
Track Crompton Lower 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 Crompton Lower
Where does the data for Crompton Lower 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 Crompton Lower.