Moffett Pond dam
Moffett Pond
Moffett Pond, located in Lincoln, Rhode Island, is a historic earth dam structure built in 1883 across the Moshassuck River. The dam stands at a height of 10 feet with a hydraulic height of 9 feet, providing a maximum storage capacity of 5 acre-feet. Despite its age, the dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in the area, with a normal storage capacity of 4 acre-feet and a maximum discharge capability of 147 cubic feet per second.
With a high hazard potential and poor condition assessment, Moffett Pond requires regular inspections and maintenance to ensure its structural integrity. The dam is regulated by the Rhode Island state government, with state jurisdiction, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place. While the dam serves purposes beyond flood control or water supply, such as recreation or wildlife habitat enhancement, its age and condition highlight the importance of ongoing risk assessment and management measures to safeguard the surrounding community and environment.
Local government ownership of Moffett Pond underscores the collaborative effort needed among various stakeholders, including private entities and regulatory agencies, to address the challenges posed by aging infrastructure and changing climate conditions. With its historical significance and ecological value, Moffett Pond represents a unique opportunity for water resource and climate enthusiasts to engage in discussions on sustainable water management practices and the importance of proactive infrastructure maintenance in the face of a changing climate.
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 Moffett Pond -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Blackstone R At Roosevelt St At Pawtucket Ri | 786 cfs | → |
| Woonasquatucket River At Centerdale | 32 cfs | → |
| Moshassuck River At Providence | 22 cfs | → |
| Ten Mile River At Pawtucket Ave @ E Providence | 56 cfs | → |
| Blackstone River At Woonsocket | 717 cfs | → |
| Branch River At Forestdale | 120 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Moffett Pond.
Boat launches
- Olney Pond
- Lincoln Woods
- Farnum Pike 334, Smithfield
- Falls Pond
- Stillhouse Cove
- Sabin Point Waterfront Park
Campgrounds
- George Washington State Campground
- Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts Of America, Cub World
- Dyer Woods Nudist Campgrounds
- "The Sandpits" Private Hiking And Winter Sports Area
- Camp Christina Entrance
- Minha Casa
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track Moffett 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 Moffett Pond
Where does the data for Moffett 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 Moffett Pond.