Shaker Mill Pond Dam dam
Shaker Mill Pond Dam
Shaker Mill Pond Dam, located in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, is a local government-owned structure on the Williams River with a primary purpose of recreation. Completed in 2000, this earth dam stands at 18 feet high and has a hydraulic height of 11.8 feet. With a storage capacity of 466 acre-feet, the dam covers a surface area of 30.1 acres and serves a drainage area of 32.5 square miles.
Regulated by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, Shaker Mill Pond Dam is classified as having a high hazard potential, yet its condition assessment is rated as satisfactory as of December 2017. The dam's spillway is uncontrolled, and it has a moderate risk assessment score of 3. While no emergency action plan was reported, the dam undergoes inspections every two years to ensure its structural integrity and safety standards are maintained.
Enthusiasts of water resources and climate monitoring will find Shaker Mill Pond Dam an intriguing subject for study, given its location in the Berkshire County of Massachusetts and its impact on the local ecosystem. With its recreational purpose, storage capacity, and risk management measures, this earth dam on the Williams River offers a unique opportunity to explore the intersection of human infrastructure and environmental sustainability 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 Shaker Mill Pond Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 249 cfs | → |
| Green River Near Great Barrington | 21 cfs | → |
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 40 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 454 cfs | → |
| Valatie Kill Near Nassau Ny | 4 cfs | → |
| Kinderhook Creek At Rossman Ny | 235 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Shaker Mill Pond Dam.
Boat launches
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- Beech Road, Richmond
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
- Hancock Road 48-94, Pittsfield
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
Campgrounds
- October Mountain State Forest
- Fox Hollow Camping
- At Thruhiker Camping
- Shaker Camp
- Beartown State Forest
- Sites 11, 12, 13
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
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
Track Shaker Mill 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 Shaker Mill Pond Dam
Where does the data for Shaker Mill 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 Shaker Mill Pond Dam.