Centerville Pond dam
Centerville Pond
Centerville Pond in West Warwick, Rhode Island, is a historic dam completed in 1885 along the Pawtuxet River. With a height of 16 feet and a storage capacity of 350 acre-feet, this structure serves multiple purposes, including flood control and water supply. Despite its age, Centerville Pond is still regulated and inspected by the state, with a high hazard potential due to its condition being assessed as poor.
The dam's poor condition raises concerns for water resource and climate enthusiasts, as it poses potential risks to the surrounding community in case of a failure. With a drainage area of 73 square miles and a maximum discharge of 2700 cubic feet per second, the impact of a breach could be significant. The dam's location in Kent County, Rhode Island, highlights the importance of regular inspections and maintenance to ensure the safety and integrity of this critical infrastructure.
Given its historical significance and the potential hazards associated with its current condition, Centerville Pond serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in managing water resources and infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions. Climate resilience efforts and proactive maintenance strategies are crucial to safeguarding communities and ecosystems that rely on structures like Centerville Pond for water management and protection against flooding.
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 Centerville Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 87 cfs | → |
| Pawtuxet River At Cranston | 176 cfs | → |
| Hunt River Near East Greenwich | 25 cfs | → |
| Nooseneck River At Nooseneck | 9 cfs | → |
| Moshassuck River At Providence | 17 cfs | → |
| Queen R At Liberty Rd At Liberty Ri | 15 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Centerville 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 Centerville 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 Centerville Pond
Where does the data for Centerville 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 Centerville Pond.