Washington Mountain Lake Dam dam
Washington Mountain Lake Dam
Washington Mountain Lake Dam, located in Berkshire, Massachusetts, stands as a vital structure managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation. Constructed in 1972 by the USDA NRCS, this state-regulated dam serves the primary purpose of flood risk reduction along the Washington Mountain Brook. With a height of 28 feet and a hydraulic height of 22 feet, this earth dam boasts a length of 1145 feet and a storage capacity of 5370 acre-feet.
Despite its satisfactory condition assessment and high hazard potential, Washington Mountain Lake Dam maintains a moderate risk level of 3. Regularly inspected every two years, the dam's emergency action plan was last reviewed in June 2018. With uncontrolled spillways and outlet gates, the dam remains a critical component in protecting the surrounding area from potential flooding while also providing recreational opportunities for the community.
Owned by the state of Massachusetts, Washington Mountain Lake Dam serves as a key player in managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. As a buttress-type earth dam, its construction and operation are overseen by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. With a focus on flood risk reduction, fish and wildlife preservation, and recreation, this dam is an essential structure in maintaining the balance between water resource management and environmental conservation.
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 Washington Mountain Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 40 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 249 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 21 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 61 cfs | → |
| Westfield River At Knightville | 149 cfs | → |
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Washington Mountain Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- Beech Road, Richmond
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
- Hancock Road 48-94, Pittsfield
Campgrounds
- October Mountain State Forest
- Shaker Camp
- Rocky Point
- Green Point
- Crystal Mountain Campsite (& Privy)
- Beartown State Forest
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
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
Track Washington Mountain Lake 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 Washington Mountain Lake Dam
Where does the data for Washington Mountain Lake 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 Washington Mountain Lake Dam.