Goose Pond Dam dam
Goose Pond Dam
Goose Pond Dam in Tyringham, Massachusetts, is a local government-owned structure that serves primarily for recreation purposes. Completed in 1840, this earth dam stands at a height of 28 feet and has a hydraulic height of 26 feet, providing a storage capacity of 4280 acre-feet. The dam overlooks Goose Pond Brook and covers a surface area of 225 acres within a drainage area of 4.2 square miles.
Despite its age, Goose Pond Dam has been regularly inspected and was last assessed in August 2016 as being in satisfactory condition. With a high hazard potential due to its location, the dam is designated as state-regulated with the Department of Conservation and Recreation overseeing its permitting, inspection, and enforcement procedures. Although the risk assessment indicates a moderate risk level, no specific risk management measures have been outlined for the dam.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will find Goose Pond Dam to be an intriguing structure with a rich history dating back to the 19th century. Its recreational purpose, combined with its state-regulated status and high hazard potential, make it a significant feature in the Berkshire County area of Massachusetts. The dam's maintenance and management practices contribute to its overall safety and functionality, ensuring its continued role in water resource management and climate resilience efforts in the region.
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 Goose Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 257 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 23 cfs | → |
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 44 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 52 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 499 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 68 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Goose Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Beech Road, Richmond
- Main Road, Tolland
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
Campgrounds
- Shaker Camp
- October Mountain State Forest
- Green Point
- Rocky Point
- Beartown State Forest
- At Thruhiker Camping
Fishing spots
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- 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
- 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 Goose 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 Goose Pond Dam
Where does the data for Goose 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 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 Goose Pond Dam.