Buck Hill Pond dam
Buck Hill Pond
Buck Hill Pond, located in the Buck Hill Management Area in Providence, Rhode Island, is a picturesque fish and wildlife pond built in 1962 with a primary purpose of supporting local wildlife and recreational activities. Managed by the USDA NRCS, this gravity dam structure stands at 13 feet tall and spans 500 feet in length, holding a maximum storage capacity of 110 acre-feet. Despite its poor condition assessment in 2017, Buck Hill Pond remains a low-hazard facility with a relatively low risk assessment rating.
This tranquil oasis, nestled along Leeson Brook, offers a serene setting for nature enthusiasts and climate advocates to appreciate the importance of water resource management. With a controlled spillway and vertical lift outlet gates, this pond not only provides vital habitat for fish and wildlife but also serves as a recreational haven for the local community. While lacking recent inspection data, Buck Hill Pond's rich history and scenic beauty make it a valuable asset worth preserving for future generations.
As climate change continues to impact water resources and ecosystems, the conservation of Buck Hill Pond becomes increasingly crucial. With a very high risk assessment ranking, there is a need for improved risk management measures and regular inspections to ensure the structural integrity and safety of this vital water resource. As advocates for sustainable environmental practices, it is essential for water resource and climate enthusiasts to support the preservation and maintenance of Buck Hill Pond for the benefit of both wildlife and the local community.
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 Buck Hill Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Nipmuc River Near Harrisville | 17 cfs | → |
| French R At N Grosvenordale | 116 cfs | → |
| French River At Webster | 7 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug R At West Thompson | 225 cfs | → |
| Little River At Harrisville | 29 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 432 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Buck Hill Pond.
Boat launches
- Wallum Lake Road 107, Douglas
- Quaddick Reservoir
- Clarkville Pond
- Bowdish Reservoir
- Pascoag Reservoir Fishing Access
- Torrey Road 22, Sutton
Campgrounds
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- George Washington State Campground
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- Brialee
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Wilderness Lake Campground
Fishing spots
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
Track Buck Hill 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 Buck Hill Pond
Where does the data for Buck Hill 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 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 Buck Hill Pond.