Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam dam
Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam
Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam in Cheshire, Massachusetts, stands as a significant structure designed for water supply purposes. Completed in 1967, this concrete gravity dam boasts a height of 29 feet and a hydraulic height of 28.45 feet, with a storage capacity of 16 acre-feet. Situated on Bassett Brook, the dam serves as a vital component of the local water supply infrastructure, ensuring a stable water source for the surrounding community.
Managed by the Department of Conservation and Recreation in Massachusetts, the dam is subject to state regulations, including regular inspections to assess its structural integrity. With a satisfactory condition assessment as of May 2017, the dam is categorized as having a significant hazard potential, prompting a moderate risk assessment. Despite the potential risks, the dam remains a crucial asset in maintaining water resources in the region, with a surface area of 0.75 acres and a drainage area of 2.9 square miles.
Overall, Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam plays a crucial role in water resource management in Berkshire County, Massachusetts. With its historical significance, structural design, and operational efficiency, the dam stands as a testament to the importance of sustainable water supply infrastructure in mitigating the impacts of climate change and ensuring water security for local communities.
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 Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Hoosic River At Adams | 56 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Williamstown | 159 cfs | → |
| Green River At Williamstown | 62 cfs | → |
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 40 cfs | → |
| Deerfield River At Charlemont | 304 cfs | → |
| North River At Shattuckville | 76 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- Ashton Avenue North Adams
- Hancock Road 48-94, Pittsfield
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
- Pine Ridge Drive 27, Pownal
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- South Stream Access Area Road Pownal
Campgrounds
- Mt. Greylock State Reservation
- Chimney Group Site
- Cherry Group Site
- Balsam Group Site
- Ash Group Site
- Spruce Group Site
Track Bassett Brook Reservoir 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 Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Bassett Brook Reservoir 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 Significant 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 Bassett Brook Reservoir Dam.