Littleville Dam dam
Littleville Dam
Littleville Dam, also known as Littleville Lake, is a Federal-owned structure located in Huntington, Massachusetts. Completed in 1965, this gravity dam stands at a height of 164 feet and has a storage capacity of 40,600 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with additional benefits for water supply. The dam, managed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks for downstream communities along the Westfield River.
A risk assessment conducted in 2013 classified the potential risks associated with Littleville Dam as Moderate, primarily due to the large population living downstream that could be affected by catastrophic flooding in the event of a failure. While the dam significantly reduces the risk of flooding, there are potential scenarios, such as uncontrolled releases of water through the spillway during significant storm events, that could lead to downstream flooding. The towns of Huntington, Russell, and Woronoco in Massachusetts, as well as areas in neighboring counties, would be most impacted in the event of a breach, with potential significant property damage and loss of life.
Despite being unlikely, the potential consequences of a failure at Littleville Dam are severe, with downstream floodwaters posing a significant threat to communities along the Westfield River. In a worst-case scenario, floodwaters could reach heights equivalent to a two to four-story building, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The US Army Corps of Engineers continues to monitor and manage the risks associated with the dam to ensure the safety of downstream communities and 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 Littleville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
| Westfield River At Knightville | 159 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 68 cfs | → |
| Mill River At Northampton | 41 cfs | → |
| Westfield River Near Westfield | 388 cfs | → |
| Connecticut R At Interstate 391 Bridge At Holyoke | 24,800 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Littleville Dam.
Boat launches
- Old Apremont Way, Westfield
- Main Road, Tolland
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Mount Tom Road 900-978, Easthampton
- Kellogg Hill Road, Hatfield
- West Street 121, Springfield
Campgrounds
- Chester - Blanford State Forest
- Koa Weathampton
- Green Point
- Rocky Point
- Tolland State Forest
- Dar State Forest
Paddle runs
- 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
- Begins Below The Tailrace Of The Rainbow Dam To The Confluence With The Connecticut River
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Littleville 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 Littleville Dam
Where does the data for Littleville 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 Littleville Dam.