Belmont Reservoir Dam dam
Belmont Reservoir Dam
Belmont Reservoir Dam, located in Hinsdale, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, was completed in 1889 and serves as a vital water supply source for the region. The dam, classified as an Earth dam with a height of 29 feet and a hydraulic height of 25 feet, holds a maximum storage capacity of 114 acre-feet with a normal storage level of 90 acre-feet. The reservoir covers an area of 10.2 acres and is fed by a tributary to Welch Brook.
State regulated and inspected by the Department of Conservation and Recreation, Belmont Reservoir Dam has a high hazard potential but is currently deemed to be in satisfactory condition following its last assessment in August 2016. The dam has an uncontrolled spillway type and has undergone no significant modifications in recent years. While it presents a moderate risk level, risk management measures and emergency action plans are not explicitly listed in the available data.
For water resource and climate enthusiasts, Belmont Reservoir Dam offers a rich historical and environmental significance as a key infrastructure supporting water supply in the region. Its engineering design, storage capacity, and regulatory oversight provide insights into the management of water resources and the potential risks associated with dam infrastructure in the face of changing climate conditions.
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 Belmont Reservoir Dam -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| East Branch Housatonic River At Coltsville | 36 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River At Adams | 52 cfs | → |
| Housatonic River Near Great Barrington | 234 cfs | → |
| Westfield River At Knightville | 135 cfs | → |
| Middle B Westfield River At Goss Heights | 8 cfs | → |
| Hoosic River Near Williamstown | 142 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Belmont Reservoir Dam.
Boat launches
- New Lenox Road 350, Lenox
- Hancock Road 48-94, Pittsfield
- Lakeway Drive 309-399, Pittsfield
- Laurel Street 515, Lee
- Beech Road, Richmond
- Highway 8 2301-2357, Becket
Campgrounds
- Crystal Mountain Campsite (& Privy)
- October Mountain State Forest
- Rocky Point
- Green Point
- Sites 11, 12, 13
- Pittsfield State Forest
Paddle runs
- Stamford Town Line To Confluence With City Stream
- 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
- Woodford To Woodford Hollow
- First Bridge To Walloomsac Brook
- The Hartland Headwaters To The Confluence With The Salmon Brook Main Stem
Track Belmont 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 Belmont Reservoir Dam
Where does the data for Belmont 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 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 Belmont Reservoir Dam.