Riiska Brook Dam dam
Riiska Brook Dam
Riiska Brook Dam, located in Sandisfield, Massachusetts, is a privately owned earth dam primarily used for recreational purposes. Completed in 1952, this dam stands at a height of 18.5 feet with a hydraulic height of 15.5 feet, providing a storage capacity of 62 acre-feet. The dam, situated on a tributary of Riiska Brook, covers a surface area of 0.01 acres and has a low hazard potential with a fair condition assessment as of 2009.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, Riiska Brook Dam has state regulation, permitting, inspection, and enforcement in place, ensuring its safe operation and maintenance. While the dam is classified as having a moderate risk level, with a risk assessment rating of 3, there have been no recent risk management measures identified or implemented. With its scenic location in Berkshire County, this dam serves as a vital recreational resource for locals and visitors alike, offering opportunities for fishing, boating, and other outdoor activities in a picturesque setting.
Despite its age, Riiska Brook Dam remains a key feature in the water resource infrastructure of Massachusetts, providing both recreational enjoyment and a source of water storage for the surrounding area. As climate change continues to impact water resources, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of dams like Riiska Brook will be crucial in maintaining a sustainable and resilient water supply for the community.
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 Riiska Brook Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 68 cfs | → |
| Still River At Robertsville | 83 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 140 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 609 cfs | → |
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 14 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River At Falls Village | 774 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Riiska Brook Dam.
Boat launches
Campgrounds
- Tolland State Forest
- Granville State Forest
- White Pines Campsites
- Haws Memorial - American Legion State Forest
- James Stocking Youth Group Camping Area
- Beartown State Forest
Fishing spots
- Great Brook Reservoir
- Lower Fulton Park Pond
- Lake Quassapaug
- Squantz Pond
- Papermill Pond
- Seymour Reservoir Number 4
Paddle runs
- The Massachusetts-Connecticut Border To Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
- 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
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
- The Confluence With The Nepaug River To A Point 0.2 Miles Below The Lower Collinsville Dam Tailrace
Track Riiska Brook 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 Riiska Brook Dam
Where does the data for Riiska Brook 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 Low 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 Riiska Brook Dam.