Knightville Dam Dam
Knightville Dam
Knightville Dam, also known as Dry Reservoir, is a rockfill dam located in Hampshire, Massachusetts, along the Westfield River. Completed in 1941 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the dam stands at 150 feet in height and has a storage capacity of 64,000 acre-feet. Its primary purpose is flood risk reduction, with a spillway width of 400 feet and a maximum discharge capacity of 83,000 cubic feet per second. The dam poses a high hazard potential, with a moderate risk assessment due to the large population living downstream that could be affected by catastrophic flooding in the event of a dam failure.
Although the risk of a dam failure is deemed unlikely, potential scenarios include uncontrolled high-volume releases from the spillway during significant storm events. The downstream communities, including Knightville, Huntington, and Russell, could be at risk of flooding in such situations. While the USACE has measures in place to monitor and manage the risks associated with Knightville Dam, including an Emergency Action Plan, there is ongoing study and assessment to further understand and mitigate any potential hazards. It is crucial for water resource and climate enthusiasts to stay informed about the dam's operations and risk management efforts to ensure the safety of the surrounding communities.
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 Knightville Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Westfield River At Knightville | 49 cfs | → |
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 20 cfs | → |
| Mill River At Northampton | 9 cfs | → |
| Connecticut R At Interstate 391 Bridge At Holyoke | 4,010 cfs | → |
| Westfield River Near Westfield | 107 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Knightville Dam.
Boat launches
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Campgrounds
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Fishing spots
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River runs
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About Knightville Dam
Where does the data for Knightville 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 below 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.
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.