Clam Lake Dam dam
Clam Lake Dam
Located in Berkshire, Massachusetts, Clam Lake Dam is a state-regulated structure designed by the USDA NRCS in 1977 for flood risk reduction along the Clam River. Standing at a height of 94 feet with a hydraulic height of 88 feet, this earth dam spans 950 feet and has a storage capacity of 3,840 acre-feet. The dam serves multiple purposes including flood risk reduction, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational activities, making it a vital resource for both the environment and the community.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Clam Lake Dam is inspected biennially and has been assessed to be in fair condition with a high hazard potential. Although the dam has an uncontrolled spillway and outlet gates, it meets state permitting and inspection requirements. While the risk assessment indicates a moderate level of risk, there are no specific risk management measures or emergency action plans in place. Despite these challenges, Clam Lake Dam remains a crucial infrastructure for water resource management and climate resilience in the region.
With its strategic location and significant storage capacity, Clam Lake Dam plays a crucial role in mitigating flood risks and supporting the local ecosystem. As climate change continues to impact water resources, maintaining and strengthening the infrastructure of dams like Clam Lake will be essential for ensuring the safety and sustainability of communities in the face of evolving environmental challenges.
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 Clam Lake Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| West Branch Farmington River Near New Boston | 53 cfs | → |
| Hubbard River Nr. West Hartland | 10 cfs | → |
| Still River At Robertsville | 75 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Nr Ashley Falls | 516 cfs | → |
| West Branch Westfield River At Huntington | 71 cfs | → |
| West Branch Farmington River At Riverton | 137 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Clam Lake Dam.
Boat launches
- Main Road, Tolland
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
- Wood Creek Pond Boat Launch
- Howells Pond
- Highland Lake
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
Campgrounds
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 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
- Falls Mountain Road In Canaan, Connecticut To Kent Bridge
- The Confluence Of The East And West Branches To The Confluence With The Farmington River In East Granby
- New Hartford/Canton Town Line To The Confluence With The Nepaug River
Track Clam 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 Clam Lake Dam
Where does the data for Clam 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 Clam Lake Dam.