Lower Spectacle Pond Dam dam
Lower Spectacle Pond Dam
Lower Spectacle Pond Dam, located in Berkshire, Massachusetts, is a state-regulated structure managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. This buttress dam serves the primary purpose of creating a Fish and Wildlife Pond, supporting a variety of recreational activities in the area. With a height of 11 feet and a hydraulic height of 2.5 feet, the dam provides a storage capacity of 928 acre-feet and covers a surface area of 70 acres, with a drainage area of 3.4 square miles.
Although Lower Spectacle Pond Dam has a low hazard potential, its condition assessment is rated as poor, indicating a need for maintenance and improvement. The last inspection in March 2017 highlighted the dam's moderate risk level, prompting the consideration of risk management measures to ensure its continued safety and functionality. With a history of state regulation and inspection, this dam plays a crucial role in supporting the local ecosystem and recreational activities while requiring ongoing attention to mitigate potential risks.
As a key structure in the tributary of Clam River, Lower Spectacle Pond Dam is an essential component of the region's water resource management. With its state-regulated status and poor condition assessment, there is a need for proactive measures to address its maintenance issues and ensure the safety of the surrounding area. By staying informed about the dam's risk assessment and management strategies, water resource and climate enthusiasts can contribute to the preservation and sustainability of this important infrastructure.
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 Lower Spectacle Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 59 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 563 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 79 cfs | → |
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 14 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 299 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 28 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lower Spectacle Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Main Road, Tolland
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Howells Pond
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- Twin Lakes
Campgrounds
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Squantz Pond
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Lower Spectacle Pond Dam 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 Lower Spectacle Pond Dam
Where does the data for Lower Spectacle Pond Dam 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 Lower Spectacle Pond Dam.