Lower Highland Lake Dam dam
Lower Highland Lake Dam
Lower Highland Lake Dam, located in Goshen, Massachusetts, has been standing tall since its completion in 1852. This rockfill dam on the West Branch Mill River serves primarily as a Fish and Wildlife Pond, providing essential habitat for local species. With a height of 29 feet and a storage capacity of 1530 acre-feet, the dam also offers recreational opportunities in addition to its ecological benefits.
Owned and regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Lower Highland Lake Dam is inspected regularly to ensure its structural integrity and safety. The dam has a high hazard potential, but its condition was assessed as satisfactory as of August 2017. Despite the moderate risk associated with the dam, it meets guidelines for emergency action plans and risk management measures are in place to mitigate any potential threats.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate will appreciate the vital role that Lower Highland Lake Dam plays in conserving and enhancing the surrounding ecosystem. Its presence not only supports fish and wildlife populations but also provides a serene recreational space for visitors to enjoy. As a state-regulated structure, the dam is carefully monitored to maintain its functionality and protect the community from any potential risks, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable water resource management in Hampshire County, Massachusetts.
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 Highland Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| South River Near Conway | 20 cfs | → |
| Deerfield River Near West Deerfield | 626 cfs | → |
| Mill River At Northampton | 37 cfs | → |
| Westfield River At Knightville | 149 cfs | → |
| Deerfield River At Charlemont | 304 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 Lower Highland Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Kellogg Hill Road, Hatfield
- Mount Tom Road 900-978, Easthampton
- Old Apremont Way, Westfield
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Hancock Road 48-94, Pittsfield
Campgrounds
- Dar State Forest
- Koa Weathampton
- Windsor State Forest
- Chester - Blanford State Forest
- Mohawk Trail State Forest
- Barton Cove
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut State Line In Hartland To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- Headwaters To North Of Searsburg Reservoir
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
Track Lower Highland 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 Lower Highland Lake Dam
Where does the data for Lower Highland 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 Lower Highland Lake Dam.