Spear Pond dam
Spear Pond
Spear Pond in Foster, Rhode Island, is a privately owned dam on Hemlock Brook with a primary purpose of serving as a fire protection, stock, or small fish pond. The earth dam stands at a height of 11 feet, with a hydraulic height of 3 feet and a structural height of 5 feet. The pond has a storage capacity of 6 acre-feet, with a normal storage of 5 acre-feet and a surface area of 3 acres.
Despite its small size, Spear Pond poses a high hazard potential due to its poor condition assessment. The last inspection in June 2016 revealed maintenance issues, prompting a need for further assessment and potential risk management measures. With a history of state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement, Spear Pond remains a focal point for water resource and climate enthusiasts interested in the management of small dams and their impact on local ecosystems.
As climate change continues to influence water resources, Spear Pond serves as a microcosm of the challenges facing dam owners and regulators. Understanding the complexities of maintaining and managing these structures is crucial for ensuring the safety and sustainability of water sources like Hemlock Brook. With its location in Providence County and proximity to New England District waterways, Spear Pond offers valuable insights into the intersection of water resource management, climate adaptation, and dam safety.
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 Spear Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Ponaganset River At South Foster | 16 cfs | → |
| Peeptoad Brook At Elmdale Rd Nr North Scituate | 3 cfs | → |
| South Branch Pawtuxet River At Washington | 93 cfs | → |
| Quinebaug River At Putnam | 659 cfs | → |
| Nipmuc River Near Harrisville | 27 cfs | → |
| Woonasquatucket River At Centerdale | 32 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Spear Pond.
Boat launches
- North Road 1060, Killingly
- Smith
- Squaw Rock Road Killingly
- Bowdish Reservoir
- Pascoag Reservoir Fishing Access
- Clarkville Pond
Campgrounds
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Highland Campground
- Brialee
- Camp Hoffman
Fishing spots
Track Spear 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 Spear Pond
Where does the data for Spear 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 Spear Pond.